Winter Weather Safety Tips

As recent periods of inclement weather bring snow and ice to parts of Sussex County that affect our daily routines and prompting requests for safety cautions to be undertaken with winter weather advisories, winter storm and ice warnings due to these weather patterns, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company offers these winter weather safety tips.

• Winter storm words to remember:

Winter Storm WARNING:

Life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours.

Blizzard WARNING:

Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater, please considerable falling or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile, expected to prevail for three hours or longs.

Source:  American Red Cross

• Make a plan and be prepared for winter storms

  • Check you Emergency Kit.  Replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications and medical supplies.

  • Be Prepared.  Talk with your family about what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued.

  • Have a Plan.  Create an evacuation plan that also includes your pets.

Source:  American Red Cross

• Indoor Winter Safety

Check you smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors regularly.  The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is greater during winter when doors and windows are closed and fireplaces and gas heaters are in use.

• Did you know heating is the second leading cause of home fires?

Plug only 1 heat-producing appliances (like a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, radiators, and space heaters.

Do not run engine fire generators inside your residential structure.

Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.

Source:  U.S. Fire Administration

• Frostbite vs Hypothermia

If a person’s temperature is below 95 degrees get medical attention immediately.

• Frostbite:

  • A victim is often unaware of frostbite because frozen tissue is numb.

  • Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite.

  • A white or grayish-yellow skin area

  • Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

  • Numbness

  • Hypothermia

• Adults:

  • Exhaustion or feeling very tired

  • Shivering

  • Confusion

  • Fumbling hands

  • Memory loss

  • Slurred speech

  • Drowsiness

• Babies:

  • Bright red, cold skin

  • Very low energy

Source:  CDC

• Warm Up Thefts

“Keep your vehicle safe and remember to lock your doors if you are tempted to warm them up prior to leaving."

Have you heard of warm-up thefts?

During the cold winter months, drivers may be tempted to warm up their cards while they stay warm inside.

Think twice before leaving your car running unattended.  Car thieves are on the look out for these vehicles warming up in driveways.

• Winter Driving Tips

  • Increase following distance to 8-10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery roads.

  • Do not use cruise control when driving on slippery surfaces.

  • Drive in the lane that’s been recently plowed and avoid changing lanes unless necessary.

  • Steer and brake with smooth and precise movements, not quick, jerky motions.

Source:  American Automobile Association (AAA)

• Winter Emergency Car Kit

1. Windshield Scraper

2. Jumper cables

3. Shovel

4. Phone Charger

5. Flashlight & Batteries

6. Tire Chains

7. Frist-aid kits

8. Blankets and extra clothing

Source:  Massachusetts Department of Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

• Do you know what to do during these winter hazards?

  • ? – First snow

  • ? – Dense fog

  • ? – Rain after a long dry stretch

  • ? – Flash Freeze

Safety Tips:

• Drive slowly

• Don’t use cruise control

• Use low-beam headlights in fog

• Increase following distance

Source:  National Weather Service