General Winter Weather Tips
- Try to stay indoors during severe winter weather.
- If you have to go outside, be sure to dress warmly in loose fitting layers of clothing.
- Wear heavy gloves to protect your hands and heavy socks with boots that will not absorb water.
- Cover your mouth so that you don’t breathe in freezing cold air that can damage your lungs.
- Keep your body dry.
- Know the signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
- If you are caught outside, find a dry shelter and cover all exposed parts of your body.
- If shelter is not available, prepare a lean-to, wind break, or snow-cave for protection from the wind.
- Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
- Do not eat snow as it will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.
- If you are traveling on the roads when a winter storm is possible, be sure to have emergency supplies with you.
- If you end up stranded, make sure you stay in your car or truck.
- Run your engine for about 15 minutes every hour.
- Open the windows a little bit to let in fresh air so that you avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Make yourself visible to rescuers by turning on your car’s dome light at night when the engine is running.
- Tie a colored cloth to your antenna, and raise the hood after the snow stops falling.