Preparing for
Winter Driving
The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation
accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing
how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe
winter driving.
BEFORE
Have a mechanic
check the following items on your car.
- Battery
- Antifreeze
- Wipers and
windshield washer fluid
- Ignition system
- Thermostat
- Lights
- Flashing hazard
lights
- Exhaust system
- Heater
- Brakes
- Defroster
- Oil level
(if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil
or the SAE 10w/30 weight variety)
Install good
winter tires.
Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials
are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However,
some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads,
vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with
studs.
Keep a windshield
scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
Maintain at least
a half tank of gas during the winter season.
Plan long trips
carefully.
Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for
the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight
and, if possible, take at least one other person.
If you must go
out during a winter storm, use public transportation.
Dress warmly.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.
Carry food and
water.
Store a supply of high energy "munchies" and several bottles
of water.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter
for more information on winter driving.
Winter Car Kit
Keep these items in your car:
- Flashlights
with extra batteries
- First aid
kit with pocket knife
- Necessary
medications
- Several blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Extra newspapers
for insulation
- Plastic bags
(for sanitation)
- Matches
- Extra set
of mittens, socks, and a wool cap
- Rain gear
and extra clothes
- Small sack
of sand for generating traction under wheels
- Small shovel
- Small tools
(pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
- Booster cables
- Set of tire
chains or traction mats
- Cards, games,
and puzzles
- Brightly colored
cloth to use as a flag
- Canned fruit
and nuts
- Nonelectric
can opener
- Bottled water
DURING
IF TRAPPED IN
CAR DURING A BLIZZARD
Stay in the car.
Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help
is visible within 100 yards. You may become disoriented
and lost is blowing and drifting snow.
Display a trouble
sign.
Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and
raise the hood.
Occasionally
run engine to keep warm.
Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour.
Run the heater when the car is running. Also, turn on the
car's dome light when the car is running.
Beware of
carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear
of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
Watch for signs
of frostbite and hypothermia.
Do minor exercises
to keep up circulation.
Clap hands and
move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position
for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns
sleeping.
For warmth, huddle
together.
Use newspapers,
maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation.
Avoid overexertion.
Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed
exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can
bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions
worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
Wind Chill
"Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside
when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined.
A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below
freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature
about 35 degrees colder.
Winter Storm
Watches and Warnings
A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather
may affect your area. A winter storm warning indicates
that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on
the way.
A blizzard warning
means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained
winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several
hours.
Frostbite and
Hypothermia
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can
permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a
white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and
ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia is
a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less
than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable
shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness,
and exhaustion.
If frostbite
or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly
and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk
first. Use your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be
warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood
toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
Put person in
dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
Never give a
frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it
(like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause
the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has
on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also
hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.
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