Weather Outside is Frightful
Are you ready for the first major snow storm?
Get your check lists in order. Your cars, and your home should have certain supplies. You should also do a winter safety check if you haven’t already on both your home and autos. Here is a quick list to go through.
Your Automobiles
Maintenance for winter. These should all be checked and updated if needed before the inclement weather strikes!
- Heater
- Brakes
- Lights: head, tail, and inside dome lights
- Antifreeze
- Battery
- Oil
- Thermostat
- Windshield wipers and fluid
- Ignition system
- Defroster
Supplies you should have in your cars.
- Cell phone; portable charger and extra batteries
- Windshield scraper
- Battery-powered radio (and extra batteries)
- Flashlight (and extra batteries)
- Water
- Snack Food
- Extra Hats, Coats, and gloves
- Blanket
- Chains or rope
- Tire chains
- Canned compressed air with sealant (emergency tire reapair)
- Road salt and sand
- Booster cables
- Emergency flares
- Bright colored flag; help signs
- First aid kit
- Tool kit
- Road maps
- Compass
- Waterproof matches and a can (to melt snow for water)
- Paper towels
If you are trapped in your car in a winter storm:
- Stay in the car.
- Do not leave the car to look for help unless help is visible within 100 yards.
- Display a “call for help” sign.
- Raise the car hood or hang a brightly colored cloth on the antenna to signal for help.
- To keep warm, turn on the car’s engine for about 10 minutes each hour.
- Run the heater only when the car is running. (Avoid running the car battery down.)
- Turn on car lights only when the car is running. (Avoid running the car battery down.)
- Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. (Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.)
- Open a window slightly for fresh air.
- Do light exercise to stay warm.
- If you’re alone, stay awake as much as possible.
- If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.
- For warmth, huddle close together.
- Wrap your body and head with extra clothes, blankets, newspapers, maps, or removable car mats.
- Do not eat snow (lowers your body temperature). If no other water is available, snow can be melted for water using a can and a lit match. (Please note: Water must come to a rolling boil for one minute to kill most germs, but boiling water won’t get rid of chemicals sometimes found in snow.)
- Always let someone know where your going.
For your Home
- Install your storm windows
- Check and replace any weather stripping
- Clean your fireplace
- Put plastic up on the windows
- Install a carbon monoxide detector. If you have one check the batteries
- Have your furnace inspected and cleaned. Be sure to change your filters regularly!
Supplies for the Home
You should have a weeks worth of supplies on hand. If you live far away from people or stores you should have more.
- Drinking water
- Canned/no cook food (bread, crackers, dried fruits)
- Baby food and formula (if baby is in the house)
- Prescription drugs and other medicines
- First aid kit
- Rocksalt to melt the ice on walkways
- Supply of cat litter or a bag of sand to add traction on walk ways and on the driveway if a car gets stuck. Adding some near the tire will help the car gain traction.
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Battery powered lamps or lanterns. Battery powered radios. Extra batteries.
- Charcoal and lighter fluid for your grill or full tank of gas for your gas grill. This may be your only source for cooking. Use common sense and know that these are not ever meant to be used indoors.
Most of all stay safe. Remember to check on your neighbors and especially elderly neighbors. Don’t travel in bad weather unless absolutely necessary. Stay indoors, make some hot chocolate and enjoy the scene from your warm cozy home.
