If you get caught in a winter storm at home or outside.

At Home:

• Listen to your radio (battery powered if the lights go out), television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information.
• Eat regularly and drink ample fluids.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. If you can temporarily close off heat to rooms that are not in use.
• If water pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate). Do not use any flames near the pipes to unfreeze them, the last thing you want is a fire to deal with in freezing conditions.
• Double check for proper ventilation if you are using kerosene heaters, to avoid the build-up of toxic fumes. Be sure to note which heaters can be used indoors. You should consider cooking food in the garage or carport to reduce CO emissions. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.

Also note that proper food storage and water storage is essential for any type of disaster. We tend to think of large earthquakes and other forms of disaster. What about an transportation problem that stops the flow of food to your local grocery store? You should have at least a months supply of food and water for every member of you family in home storage. Ideally a one years supply of food, water and any other necessities is the best option.

If you are outside

• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Better yet hire the neighbor kid to come shovel your walks and drives. A major cause of death in the winter in mature adults is a heart attack due overexertion during snow shoveling. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside, pick a moderate pace and rest if you feel tired.
• Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits body heat rapidly.
• Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.
• If symptoms of hypothermia are detected:
1. Get the victim to a warm location, start a fire in a sheilded area.
2. Remove wet clothing.
3. Dress the person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in blankets.
4. Warming the core of the body first will help quickly restore heat to the entire body.
5. Give warm, non-alcoholic or non-caffeinated beverages if the victim is conscious
6. Get medical help as soon as possible.

DO NOT PANIC! Use your head, keep your thoughts under control. If you can maintain an optimistic attitude during any type of disater you will prevail. Be sure to take care of those who can not take care of themselves. You must use your head, and keep cool (no pun intended) when surviving a severe winter storm.

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