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If you or someone you care about must venture outdoors during extreme cold this winter, dress in layers. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Try to seek shelter from the wind as much as possible while outside. Once inside again, change into dry clothing immediately if you are wet. Understand and watch for frostbite and hypothermia.
If you must drive during a storm, take the following precautions:
Slow down! Even if the roads just look wet they could still be slick.
Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow from cars causes accidents.
If you are driving and begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn your wheels in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
If your car gets stuck in a storm, STAY IN THE VEHICLE AND BE VISIBLE TO RESCUERS!
If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven cold and snow.
Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.
Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.
Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door.
After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.
INSIDE THE HOME SAFEGUARDS
When using heat from a fire place, wood stove, space heater, etc., use fire safeguards and properly ventilate. If you have a gas furnace, make sure it is not not blocked by a snowdrift as soon as it's safe to go out. If you have an upstairs gas furnace which vents out the roof, you may need to turn off the upstairs unit until the snow melts off your roof. If you have a portable generator make sure you have enough fuel to keep it running; never use a portable generator inside your home or garage.
If your heat goes out:
Close off unneeded rooms to avoid wasting heat.
Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat.
Eat and Drink! Food provides the body with its own heat. Drink lots of water and other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic drinks to prevent dehydration. Cold air is very dry.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.
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