- By aceadmin
- In Life Tips, Uncategorized
Blizzard of 2016 Survival Guide
There are many things to do in a blizzard – from making hot cocoa, to sledding, to cozying up with your loved ones in your warm home but there are a few important DON’Ts that you should definitely adhere to:
1. DON’T DRIVE – Stay off the roads. Plow and sand trucks need to keep the roads clear and any vehicles that get stuck will just impede their efforts. If you must go out in the storm, make sure your car has over half a tank of gas and emergency supplies that include a first aid kit, jumper cables, a windshield scraper, spare tire, cell phone and charger and blankets and extra warm clothing.
2. DON’T BRING YOUR BBQ GRILL OR HEAT YOUR HOME WITH YOUR OVEN – That seems like an obvious thing not to do, but many people don’t think about that when their power goes out during a freezing storm. Dangerous fumes, specifically carbon monoxide can be generated from your grill or oven and can create a tremendously unsafe situation. In addition, if you use a fireplace be careful. It’s suggested that you open the flue and make sure that your chimney has been inspected and cleaned out. Buildup of toxic chemicals on the inside of the chimney can lead to many health effects.
3. DON’T SWEAT HEAVILY OUTSIDE – Climbing a big hill for sledding or shoveling snow can take an exhaustive toll on your body and it’s important to take frequent breaks. If sweating heavily, your clothes could become damp and take heat away. This could become the beginning of frostbite and/or hypothermia. As you begin to sweat, take a break and swap out clothing.
4. DON’T USE UP ALL THE BATTERY JUICE – If your cellphone is your only phone in your house, make sure that stays fully charged at all times, especially if strong winds are present or forecast for a winter storm. Strong winds can lead to fallen trees which leads to downed power lines – and if the power goes out during a blizzard, it could be sometime before the repair trucks can come as the roads are most often obstructed.
5. DON’T GET COLD IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT – You can stay warm by taking a warm shower – your hot water tank, even if electric, will stay warm for a few hours. In addition be sure to have a battery powered radio handy, powered cell phone and flashlights close by.
Lastly, DO be sure to stay safe, stay warm and enjoy a day (or 2 or 3 off) if you can!
Sending you our warm thoughts during this cold blizzard!
