November is Severe Winter Weather Preparedness Month. As you look around, the signs of winter are knocking at your door. The leaves are changing and falling to the ground, it is lighter earlier in the morning and darker earlier in the evening and most of all, temperatures are starting to drop.

When winter temperatures drop below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often accompany winter storms, so you may have to deal with power failures and icy roads. Staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, but you may also face indoor hazards. Many homes will be too cold either due to a power failure or inadequate heating system. When people have to use space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm, the risk of household fires increases, as well as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outdoors, can cause serious or life-threatening health problems. Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyone can be affected. 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.

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.

Plan Ahead

Prepare for extremely cold weather every winter— it’s always a possibility. There are steps you can take in advance for greater wintertime safety in your home and in your car. There is a three step approach to prepare for a winter storm before it hits:

1. Prepare your home

2. Prepare your car

3. Stock up on emergency supplies.

-Prepare your home for winter

Although periods of extreme cold cannot always be predicted far in advance, weather forecasts can sometimes provide you with several days’ notice. Listen to weather forecasts regularly, and check your emergency supplies whenever a period of extreme cold is predicted. If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for emergency heating, have your chimney or flue inspected each year. Ask your local fire department to recommend an inspector, or find one in your telephone directory. Also, if you’ll be using a fireplace, wood stove, or kerosene heater, install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Test them monthly, and replace batteries twice yearly. Have a chemical fire extinguisher readily available.

Prepare your car for winter

You can 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 serviced, or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester.

Replace windshieldwiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.

Replace any worn tires, and check the air pressure in the tires. During winter, keep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.

It is recommended to have a winter survival kit for your car. Items for your kit are:

Blankets or brightly colored cloth

Waterproof matches to melts snow for water

Windshield scraper

Flashlight with extra batteries

First aid kit

Bag of sand or cat litter to put on snow and ice for traction

Booster cables

-Stock up on emergency supplies

Stock up on emergency supplies for communication, food, safety, heating, and car in case a storm hits. Individual should prepare a “Winter Survival Kit” for their homes. A kit should have several days’ supply of:

Food that does not need cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers, cereal, canned goods and dried fruit.

Families with babies need to have baby food and formula.

Water is very important if the pipes freeze. It is recommended that you should have 5 gallons of water per person per day.

Medications that all family members may need.

Emergency supplies like blankets, matches, first aid kit, battery-powered radio, flashlight, and clock, diapers, non-electric can opener, and extra batteries.

Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.

For additional information, call (706)791-8921.