| Safety tips for surviving winter weather By Tony Schumacher When it comes to staying safe in harsh winter weather, a common sense
approach is the best bet. For whatever reason, though, we all seem to have lapses of good judgment, especially men. The reason I pick on men here is that, according to a National Weather Service informational  pamphlet, the most likely group of people to experience injuries due to snow and ice are men over 40 years of age. About 70 percent of such
injuries result from vehicle accidents, while 25 percent occur in people caught off guard out in a storm. I assume more men than women probably shovel heavy snow, push stuck cars, and walk through deep snow, too. The strain from the cold and heavy labor in unhealthy people can cause heart attacks.
I can envision a bunch of excited cross country skiers hastily packing up their SUVs after work, with the bare minimum, speeding down the
highway toward that big upcoming race. Never mind that they may have to skid down the road three hours through blowing and drifting snow, reduced visibilities and icy patches. Nothing is going to stop them. Bad things could never happen to them, right? After all, winter sports enthusiasts revel in the white stuff, the more the better. Does their euphoria of the white stuff put them in compromising situations?
Let's face it: People who ski, snowshoe, ice skate and hike will probably
put themselves in harm's way more often than inactive winter folks who just honker down in their sofa the minute it gets snowy or cold. With that in mind, it can't hurt to review some basic winter weather information. Knowledge is power.
Winter Weather Terms
A snow flurry is light snow falling for short durations that produces no accumulation or perhaps a dusting. A snow shower is snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Accumulations of a few
inches are possible. A snow squall is a brief, intense snow shower accompanied by strong, gusty winds. These are most frequently seen near the Great Lakes Snowbelt and accumulations may be very significant. Heavy snow describes a steady snow that accumulates rapidly and reduces visibility to under a half mile, even without any wind. Sleet is rain that freezes into ice pellets before reaching the ground. It normally bounces when hitting a surface and can make roads slippery.
Freezing rain is rain that freezes upon contact with a surface that is below freezing, such as a sidewalk, tree or car, forming a glaze of ice. Even small accumulations under a tenth of an inch can create a serious hazard.
Severe Winter Weather Alerts
The National Weather Service issues numerous headlines to alert the public. A Winter Storm Watch indicates that heavy snow or ice may affect your area but its occurrence, exact location and timing are still
uncertain. They are usually issued 12 to 36 hours before the beginning of a storm. A watch is upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning when 4 or more inches of snow or sleet is expected in the next 12 hours, or 6 or more inches in 24 hours, or a quarter inch or more of ice accumulation is expected. Often strong winds are part of a Winter Storm Warning as well, which can create significant blowing and drifting of snow. A Blizzard Warning indicates winds will be sustained at or frequently gust to
35 mph or more in conjunction with falling or blowing snow to create visibilties to near zero for a period of at least three hours. Wind chills often drop into the very dangerous level in a Blizzard Warning.
A Snow Advisory or Winter Weather Advisory is normally issued when 2 to 5 inches of snow are expected or perhaps some combination of snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind. This advisory indicates the weather will cause inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, it could lead to
life threatening situations. Then there are the Lake Effect Snow Advisories and Warnings. These are essentially the same as a Snow Advisory or Winter Storm Warning except the culprit, of course, is lake effect snow, and therefore the effects will likely be much more local than with a large scale winter storm.
A Wind Chill Advisory is issued when the wind chill temperatures are expected to reach about 20 F. At this level frostbite can occur to
exposed skin in 15 minutes or more. A Wind Chill Warning means wind chills will reach about 35 F or colder. At this level, exposed flesh can be frostbitten in a few minutes and hypothermia can set in rather quickly. Did you know that 50 percent of frostbite/hypothermia injuries happen to people over 60 years old?
Cold Safety Tips
Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If
symptoms are detected, get medical help. Be sure to slowly rewarm the affected areas. If a person is showing signs of hypothermia, too, warm the body core before the extremities to lessen the risk of heart failure.
Hypothermia is when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees F, and it can kill. Survivors may have to deal with lasting kidney, liver and pancreas problems. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering,
memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. Don't confuse this with the way you may feel after an intense workout, since that's how a lot of us feel. In any case, if hypothermia is suspected, seek medical help immediately! If medical care is not available, give the person dry clothing and wrap a warm blanket around them, especially the neck and head. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs or coffee. Warm broth is a good first food to offer.
I'm sure by now you've all found the best way for yourself to stay warm in biting cold and wind. Of course, you'll dress differently for strenuous sporting events than if you're on a trip to the grocery store, but here are some general guidelines to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing. The trapped air between layers provides good insulation. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water
repellent and hooded. Try to stay dry. Remove layers as necessary to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent chill.
Wear a hat. About 30 to 50 percent of body heat loss can come from the head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, will normally keep your hands warmer than gloves.
Safety on the Road
If you're determined to get there in the winter under all conditions, be
sure your car is tuned up and has good tires. Slow down in adverse weather. That sounds simple but many folks don't do it. If you get into a skid, steer into the skid and gradually slow down. Don't slam on the breaks, especially if you don't have anti lock brakes. Leave extra stopping distance between you and cars ahead of you.
Also keep your gas tank near full and let family or friends know your estimated travel times and routes. Carry a winter survival kit, which
contains: blankets, extra clothing, boots, flashlight, knife, high calorie nonperishable food, bottled water, sand, shovel, windshield scraper, tool kit, jumper cables, compass, road maps and plastic bags for sanitation.
If worse comes to worse and you end up stranded in your vehicle, do the following: Stay in your vehicle since you can quickly become disoriented in wind driven snow and cold. Run the motor about 10 minutes each
hour for heat. Open the windows a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
To be visible to rescuers, turn on the dome light at night when running the engine. Tie a bright cloth (like red), to your antenna or door. After the snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.
From time to time, exercise your extremities to keep the blood circulating and to keep warm.
Other Tips if Stranded Without Shelter
If you get lost in the woods or rural area during a snowstorm, or very cold weather, try these: Do your best to stay dry and cover all your exposed body parts. Build a lean to, windbreak, or snow cave for protection from the wind. If you're lucky enough to have a lighter or matches, build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat. Melt snow for drinking water since eating snow will lower your body temperature.
Stay safe now this winter and enjoy!
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