Public Health

Staying Safe in Cold Weather

During the winter, avoid excess time outside as much as possible when temperatures are below freezing. If you need to go outside, wear multiple layers of warm, breathable clothing and watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Cold-Related Illness – Learn the Signs

• Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes.
  • Signs: White or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin.
  • Actions to take: Warm up! Soak in warm, not hot water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
• Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A body temperature below 95°F degrees is an emergency.
  • Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
  • Actions to take: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck. Seek medical attention when possible.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. CO fumes are produced anytime fuel is burned such as in vehicles, lanterns, stoves and portable generators. CO poisoning claims hundreds of lives each year and leaves thousands more seriously ill.
  • Signs: Headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion – often described as flu-like symptoms.
  • Actions to take: Install a CO detector near sleeping areas and replace battery when needed. Have a certified technician perform routine maintenance on your home’s heating system. Check or clean your chimney every year. Never operate a generator inside your home or garage, and never run your car or truck inside your garage. Do not use stoves or other unapproved devices to heat your home.

General Recommendations

Winter weather, including snow, sleet, and ice, can create hazardousAnything that involves danger driving conditions. Annually, snowy, slushy, or icy road conditions are linked to approximately 1,300 deaths and nearly 117,000 injuries nationwide. Properly preparing yourself and your vehicle for winter weather is essential for staying safe on the road.

• Here are some tips to help you prepare for winter driving:
  • Slow down – It’s harder to control or stop a vehicle on a slick or snow-covered road. If you are driving to work or school, you may need to leave earlier to make up the time for dangerous driving conditions.
  • Tires – As temperatures drop, so does tire pressure. Make sure each tire is inflated to the manufacturer-recommended pressure. Also, make sure to regularly check for tire damage and age-related issues, since some tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every 6 years regardless of use. Properly inflated and maintained tires are safer in hazardousAnything that involves danger road conditions.
  • Car battery – Make sure your car battery can withstand cold temperatures by getting it checked by your mechanic or local auto store regularly.
  • Prepare your vehicle – Make sure your lights (headlights, taillights, brake lights, etc.) work, your windshield wipers are clear and functioning properly, and your vehicle’s windshield washer fluid reservoir is full of winter-rated fluid before winter hits.

Keep Your Vehicle Stocked

Experts recommend keeping supplies in your vehicle during the cold winter season so that, should an emergency happen while you are travelling, you are prepared to handle it. These recommendations include:

• Keep a snow shovel or broom in the vehicle in case you get stranded, so you can get snow away from tires and help get out of a ditch or rut.
• Have an ice-scraper on-hand to ensure your windows and roof are clear of snow and ice. Snow or ice flying off your vehicle can be dangerous for those behind you.
• Use sand or cat litter to provide traction in case you get stuck in snow.
• Have a set of jumper cables, a flashlight, emergency warming devices such as oxygen-activated hand/body warmers and blankets, and a cell phone charger in the event you are stranded.
• Anything else that your personal situation might require during an emergency (Diabetic? Keep a source of glucose on hand).
• Make sure your vehicle has a full tank or charge as much as possible, especially if traveling in unfamiliar areas or over longer distances.

Know your National Weather Service terminology and what they mean!

• Winter Storm Warning – Issued when hazardousAnything that involves danger winter weather in the form of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet is imminent or occurring. Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued 12 to 24 hours before the event is expected to begin.
• Winter Storm Watch – Alerts the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet. Winter Storm Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of a Winter Storm.
• Winter Storm Advisory – Issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet which will cause significant inconveniences and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.
• Extreme Cold Warning – Issued when dangerously cold weather is either imminent or occurring, so it’s time to take immediate action to protect your life.
• Extreme Cold Watch – Issued when dangerous cold is possible, so it is time to get prepared.
• Cold Weather Advisory – Issued when the temperatures will be less severe but still hazardously cold, requiring caution and awareness.