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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Extreme Cold - Preparing for Winter
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Consumer Focus: Extreme Cold - Preparing for Winter
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Extreme Cold - Preparing for Winter
With its cold and often stormy weather, winter presents a number of
safety and health challenges both indoors and out. Being prepared and
following simple safety tips can help you stay safe and warm this
season.
Posted: January 3, 2007
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Surviving a
Winter Storm
 When winter
temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can
become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often accompany a winter
storm, so you may have to cope with power failures and icy roads. Although
staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes
and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards. Many homes will be
too cold - either due to a power failure or because the heating system isn't
adequate for the weather. The risk of
household fires increases, as well as
the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, when people are forced to use space
heaters and fireplaces to stay warm. Exposure to cold temperatures, whether
indoors or outside, can cause other serious health problems. To keep
yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold-related
health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises.
- Monitor the temperature of your home. Infants and persons over age 65 are especially susceptible to cold.
- Dress in several layers to maintain body heat.
Note: Your ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age,
and older people are more susceptible to health problems caused by
cold. If you are over 65 years of age, place an easy-to-read thermometer
in an indoor location where you will see it frequently, and check the
temperature in your home often during the winter months.
Plan Ahead
- Before the cold weather hits, identify an alternate way to heat your home during a power failure.
- Keep on hand extra blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, matches, a first aid kit, manual can opener, snow shovel and rock salt.
- Stock a few days' supply of water and food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked. Remember baby food and formula if you have young children.
- Be sure to pack any special needs items (diapers, haring aid batteries, medications, etc.)
- Pack a battery powered radio - ideally one that receives broadcasts from NOAA's National Weather Service.
- Assemble an emergency supplies kit for your car too and have the vehicle winterized before storm season.
Note: If your area is prone to long periods of cold temperatures, or if
your home is isolated, stock additional amounts of food, water, and
medicine.
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Know What to Do
If severe weather is headed your way, stay tuned to local radio and TV
stations for updated information on severe weather conditions. Know the
difference between a winter storm watch and a winter storm warning.
Storm Watch
This means that winter weather is possible in your area. Listen to
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, local radio, and TV stations, or cable TV such
as the Weather Channel for further updates.
Storm Warning
When a storm warning is issued, it means a winter storm is headed your
way. Stay indoors during the storm. If you must go outside, several
layers of lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy
coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover
your mouth to prevent cold air from entering, irritating, and damaging
your lungs.
Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of
wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin. As the wind increases, heat
is carried away from a person's body at an accelerated rate, driving down
one's body temperature.
Blizzard Warning
A blizzard has sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph (56 km/h) or
greater, considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility
frequently to 1/4 mile (0.4 km) or less for a period of three hours or
more are possible generally within the next 36 hours. Freezing
temperatures and 35 mph winds will create sub-zero wind chills.
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Keeping Your Home Safe and Warm
Here are some tips to prevent injuries and deaths
related to heating your home.
- Install a smoke alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home and
test all fire alarms twice annually.
- Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector near bedrooms and on each floor
of your home.
- Make sure heating equipment is installed properly.
- Keep portable space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can
burn, including bedding, furniture, and clothing.
- Never drape clothing over a space heater to dry.
- When using a kerosene heater, turn the unit off and allow it to cool
down before refueling and refuel outside only.
- Keep a door open to the rest of the house or open a window slightly when
using a kerosene heater - this will reduce the chance of carbon monoxide
build-up in the room.
- Never use your range or oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
- Keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby when using
alternative heating sources such as the fire place, a kerosene lamp or
space heater.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency
Every year, more than 500 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO
poisoning. The risk of CO poisoning increases during the winter, as more
people run furnaces and space heaters and use fireplaces. Generators,
grills, camp stoves, lanterns, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or
charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement,
garage, or camper - or even outside near an open window. Keep vents and
flues free of debris, especially if winds are high. Flying debris can
block ventilation lines.
Note: Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning - headache, fatigue,
dizziness, nausea, confusion, and shortness of breath. If you experience
any of these symptoms, move to fresh air right away.
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Inclement Weather Driving
Avoid traveling by car in a storm - wait until conditions have improved.
Roads may be blocked by snow or emergency vehicles. Continue listening to
local radio or television stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for
updated information and instructions. Follow forecasts and be prepared
when venturing outside. Major winter storms are often followed by even
colder conditions. If you have to drive, be sure to keep a full tank and
let someone know your destination, route, and when you expect to arrive.
If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your
predetermined route.
- Visibility is key. Clear off all snow and ice
from your vehicle before starting out.
- Slow down and increase the distance between you
and the vehicle in front of you.
- Use main roads or arteries whenever possible.
Prepare Your Car for Winter
Whether you're planning on traveling five or 500 miles, the danger exists
if you are far from shelter and without adequate supplies such as food and
water for a long period of time. Avoid many dangerous winter travel problems
by planning ahead.
Have maintenance service on your vehicle as often as the
manufacturer recommends. In addition, every fall:
- Have the radiator system services, or check the antifreeze level yourself
with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze as needed.
- Recharge or replace weak batteries. Check fluid levels, battery
posts, voltage regulator and alternator.
- Replace windshield-wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
- Replace worn windshield wipers.
- Replace any worn tires, and check the air pressure in the tires.
- Keep your car's gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and to keep the
fuel lines from freezing.
- Assemble an emergency supplies kit for your vehicle.
Car and Emergency Supplies
The Winter Solstice - December 21st - marks the official beginning of winter
and while you may anticipate the seasonal change in the weather, you can be
surprised by a sudden onset of a blizzard, leaving you stranded in a
vehicle awaiting assistance. Keep in mind, early spring storms can be just
as severe as well. Be sure to assemble an emergency supplies kit for your
car to help you out should things go awry.
- Battery-powered radio (and extra batteries)
- Cell phones, charger, and extra batteries
- Windshield scraper and extra windshield-wiper fluid
- Extra clothing (hats, gloves, coats) to keep dry, and
blankets or sleeping bags
- Shovel
- Tire chains and rope
- Bottled water and non-perishable, high-energy foods such as peanut
butter and granola bars
- Tire repair kit and pump
- Battery booster cables and flares
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
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If You Get Stuck…
Wherever you are going, avoid driving alone if possible. If you should find
yourself stuck or stranded in your car during a storm, take the following
actions:
- Stay with your car! Do not try to walk to safety (unless help is visible
within 100 yards) as you can become quickly disoriented in the bitter
wind and cold, and run the risk of developing hypothermia and/or
frostbite.
- Tie a brightly colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna
to signal for help.
- Display a "call for help" sign.
- To keep warm, turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour.
Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow or debris.
- Leave the overhead light on inside the car when the engine is running so
you can be seen (turn all lights off when car is not running to avoid
running the battery down).
- While sitting, move arms and legs continuously to keep your blood
circulating and to stay warm.
- Keep one window, away from the blowing air, slightly open to let fresh
air in and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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 Clearing Snow and Ice
- Dress warmly, paying special attention to feet,
hands, nose, and ears.
- Avoid shoveling snow if you are out of shape.
- If you have a history of heart trouble, do not
shovel snow unless you have your doctor's permission.
- Never smoke while shoveling and don't drink
alcohol before or while shoveling snow.
- Push snow in front of you. If you lift it, pick
up only small amounts and lift with your legs, not your back - do not
toss snow over your shoulder or to the side.
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