Winter weather safety tips

If you have to get out, please keep these tips in mind:

• Before bad weather arrives, check the car battery, tire pressure and brakes. The heater, defroster, headlights, and windshield wipers should work correctly.
• Have a full tank of gas. Stock your vehicle with an ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, flashlight, phone charger, non-perishable snacks and a first aid kit in case you get stranded.
• Drive slowly and increase the distance between vehicles. Stopping in snow may require up to four times greater distance. Navigating icy conditions is even more challenging.
• Beware of black ice. Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shaded areas where black ice can form.
• Move over. Give a wide berth to large trucks, snowplows and other snow-clearing equipment.

• When the temperature drops below freezing, you should protect indoor pipes that are against exterior walls by opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow indoor heat to circulate.
• During severe cold temperatures, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle- helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.

• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Keep these devices outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
• Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY – DO NOT DELAY.
• Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.