Be Prepared for the Weather
Exposure to cold can drastically affect your health and well-being so it’s important to know how to protect yourself and your family when the mercurydrops.
HOME
- Protect your home’s plumbing by wrapping pipes with insulation, eliminate drafts in crawl-space vents and make sure basement windows are sealed. Keeping a trickle of water running continuously from a cold-water tap will ensure that the water keeps flowing and the pipes do not freeze. Make sure that you and your family know how and where to turn off the water valves in case a pipe does burst.
- Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
- Check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow.
- Add rock salt, sand and shovels to your emergency supply kit.
- Clean out dryer vents and keep space heaters at least three feet from other objects.
VEHICLE
- Check antifreeze, brake and windshield wiper fluid levels.
- Ensure battery and ignition systems are clean and in good condition.
- Check and repair leaks and crimped pipes in your exhaust system.
- Verify that your heater, defroster thermostat, wipers and lights work properly.
- Maintain at least a half tank of gasoline in your vehicle.
- Ensure your tires have adequate tread.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car.
INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY
- Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Layers can also be removed if you become too hot.
- Boots should be waterproof and insulated.
- Protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather. Mittens are warmer than gloves.
- Wear a hat to reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
- Limit outdoor time on extremely cold and/or windy days.
- Change out of wet clothes immediately.
- Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
- Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect lungs.
- Monitor weather forecasts and warnings.
PETS
- Ensure outdoor pets have adequate shelter and their food and water sources are not frozen.
- If keeping a pet in the garage or basement, make sure that toxic substances and materials are out of reach of the animal – remember, anti-freeze can be lethal.
- Use petroleum jelly or “shoes” to protect your pet’s paws from salt and de-icing chemicals.