How to Stay Safe and Keep Warm in Winter Emergencies

Oh yes. It's that time of year. No matter how much we wish it would just blow off to somebody else's corner of the world, for the next few months much of the northern hemisphere will have to deal with snow, sleet, ice, slush and cold temperatures, so we might as well just bite the bullet and deal with it. Do you know what you need to do to stay safe this winter?

The first rule of Winter is, if the weather’s bad, STAY OFF THE ROADS. Stay indoors where it’s warm – don’t put yourself or your family at risk. But if you feel you absolutely must go out there, then follow these simple rules which will increase your chances of getting back home safely and frostbite-free.

1. Dress properly for the cold weather.

Here are some winter clothing rules to follow that will not only help you stay warm but could save your life in an emergency:

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing. This traps air pockets between the layers which, when warmed by your body heat, are your best protection against the cold.
• Wear mittens instead of gloves. Or better yet, have both with you. Take off the mittens and put on the gloves to perform tasks like filling a tire. Bare fingers can get frostbite from handling the metal end of the air hose. (I speak from experience.)
• Wear a toque, wool cap, hood, or warm scarf that you can wrap around your head to cover your ears. Ears, like fingers and toes, are very susceptible to frostbite.
• Down-filled clothing, fur (real or fake), wool and fleece all insulate and retain heat well. They also shed moisture, which is important because wet clothing can freeze, forming a layer of ice which reduces body temperature and makes it difficult to move.

2. Avoid overexertion.

The strain from cold temperatures and heavy labor such as shoveling, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow may cause a heart attack in older and less physically fit individuals. If you must undertake strenuous activity, take many rest breaks and keep as warm as you can. Go indoors for your breaks, if at all possible.

3. Winterize your vehicle.

• Avoid automobile gas line freeze ups by keeping your tank greater than half full at all times when the vehicle is parked out of doors.
• Make sure that your car has adequate antifreeze.
• Make sure that your tires have good traction and are inflated to the right pressure. Winter tires provide the best grip on ice and snow.
• Make sure that your heater and defroster work properly.
• Make sure that your battery can carry a full charge. If it’s more than 3 years old, have it tested.
• Carry a good ice scraper in the vehicle at all times.
• If you drive a small vehicle that doesn’t have much weight, carry 1 or 2 sandbags in the trunk. They add extra weight and can be sprinkled on ice to provide traction. If you can't find sandbags, regular kitty litter works very well (but not the clumping variety).

4.  Carry an emergency survival safety kit in your vehicle.

• Fully charged mobile phone. Be sure to enter all emergency numbers in your Contacts, and if you’re an AMA member, enter the roadside assistance number.
• Blankets and spare clothing such as sweaters and wool socks.
• Flashlight with spare batteries.
• Candles and matches for light and heat.
• Non-perishable foods such as candy bars, canned goods, or high calorie food like Power Bars. For those canned goods, DON’T FORGET A CAN OPENER. And a couple of spoons.
• Some bottled water – this should be kept in the vehicle, not the trunk, or it may be frozen when you need it.
• A compass, shovel and sand, tow rope, and jumper cables.
• Glow sticks or other reflective materials, to make your vehicle visible at night.

5. Be prepared before traveling.

• Always check the weather forecast and road conditions. AAA and CAA road reports are available online and via their toll-free line, and are updated several times a day.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you think you will reach your destination. If you run into bad weather or impassable roads, call to let people know where you are and that you will be delayed.
• Be sure your mobile phone is fully charged. If you have a spare phone, take it with you.
• Best Advice: If the weather is bad, DON’T TRAVEL, especially if there will be small children in the vehicle. It's just not worth the risk.

6. What to do if travel is unavoidable and you become stranded in your vehicle.

• Stay in your vehicle and call for emergency assistance.
• Run the engine at 10 minute intervals for heat.
• Maintain proper ventilation by making sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow or other material.
• Leave the windows open slightly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Make yourself visible to rescuers. In daylight, you can tie a bright cloth to your antenna or door handle. Turn on the dome light at night, but only when running the engine, or you may kill the battery.
• Glow sticks are a handy item to add to your winter safety kit. They can be stuck in the snow beside your vehicle, making it easier to see in dark, snowy or foggy conditions.

7. How to keep safe and warm at home.

• Have your furnace checked regularly, change the filters and clean the vents.
• Seal any drafty windows with caulking or plastic.
• Prepare a home safety kit that includes extra non-perishable food, bottled water, medicine, flashlight, battery operated radio, and extra batteries. Use lithium batteries for longer battery life.
• Keep candles and matches within easy reach during bad weather, in case you experience a sudden loss of power.
• Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged.
• If you have a fireplace, keep plenty of firewood and kindling handy.

8. What to do if your heat goes off.

• Seal off any unused rooms by stuffing towels or rugs under the doors.
• Cover the windows with blankets or sheets at night if you have some extras available.
• Use only devices that are designed for heating indoors as emergency heat sources and observe all safety precautions.
• Be sure your smoke alarms are working properly.
• Have fire extinguishers checked to combat an accidental fire due to the use of alternative heat sources.

Keep warm, keep safe, and enjoy the winter. As for me, I'm headed to Hawaii!