More Snow?!? Safety Advice When Dealing With A Blizzard

Really? Another snowstorm? I’m sitting here hunkered down watching American Idol and waiting for the next storm to hit. I remember when I lived in Los Angeles and listened to people from the Northeast constantly talk about the weather. It was boring beyond belief and I couldn’t understand why they obsessed over it. Well, now that I’m back here I get it. And, as I check the online storm tracker for the twentieth time in two hours and see that they’re calling for wide-spread power outages and another foot of snow, I’m starting to make a mental check list of all of the things to consider:

• Blackouts could last hours or days. Be sure that your cell phone is fully charged; have extra batteries on hand and know where flashlights are located.

• Have a cooler that you can pack some food in and store in the snow to keep cold if need be. Meats, eggs and cheeses should be thrown out if power is out for longer than eight hours.

• Never turn on a gas stove for heat. Purchase a battery-powered space heater. Be careful when using candles for light sources.

• If there is a downed power wire in your yard or driveway, don’t go near it! Electricity can travel through the ground and tree limbs so use caution even if you’re nearby. If someone has touched a wire, do not attempt to help as you can become a victim as well!
• Consider maintaining a landline even if you exclusively use a cell phone. If you call 911 from a cell phone, the emergency operator will not know where you are located. Be sure to provide your location immediately. Also, while wireless carriers are required to place 911 calls even if a phone is not activated, if there is not a number associated with the phone, an emergency operator can’t call you back. You will need to call back if disconnected.

• If you need to shovel snow, keep your nose and mouth covered and wear layers to stay warm. Constriction of blood vessels due to extreme cold and the exertion of shoveling can increase the risk of cardiac arrest.

Related Articles:
Trapped in the Snow with Nowhere to Go? 10 Items for Your Winter Automobile Survival Kit Family Action Plan—Natural Disaster 

 

• Tweet