Winter Safety Tips - What You Need to Know

You may think you’re safe from the freezing temperatures and weather when you are within the walls of your home, but the reality is that storms and cold temperatures during the winter can lead to problems if you aren’t prepared. You can stay healthy and safe by planning ahead and prepping your cars and home using these tips.

Steps to Prepare Your Home

Make sure your home is ready to handle the cold and to keep you safe while the temperatures dip outside. To get your home ready for winter:

- Winterize your home by repairing roof leaks, cleaning out gutters, insulating water lines, and installing storm windows and weather stripping
- Check all heating systems and have your system serviced by a professional
- Test your smoke detectors and install new ones if necessary
- Have a backup heating source and alternate forms of fuel
- Install a carbon monoxide detector and learn the common symptoms of CO poisoning

Don’t Forget the Car

If you must venture out during a bad storm or get caught in one unexpectedly, your car should be prepared to keep you warm for as long as necessary. All preparations should be done before the cold weather arrives to ensure that you have a functional, safe vehicle during the winter.

Keep a full tank of gas to avoid ice in the fuel and tank lines
Use wintertime formulas for washing your windshield
Keep an emergency kit in the car with the following: blankets, food and water, cell phone, compass and maps, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, and booster cables

If you have a car with 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and good tires, driving in the snow is fairly safe. If you drive a smaller car that doesn’t handle as well on the ice, drive slowly and carefully every time you leave the house.

Equip Your House for Emergencies

Snowstorms can trap residents in their homes for long periods. To keep your home ready for weather-related emergencies, such as power outages, make sure you are prepared by:

Stocking foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking
Storing water in clean containers
Keeping cell phones fully charged and having portable chargers or power banks on hand
Keep an emergency kit with extra batteries, battery-operated devices, any baby items you may need, extra medicine and a first aid kit.
Place any generators at least 20 feet away from the house to protect your family from carbon monoxide—If the carbon monoxide detector goes off, call 911 and leave the house immediately

Your place of refuge can become a cold, unhappy home if you are unprepared for emergencies. During the winter, keep a close eye on the weather report so you are ready for upcoming storms.

If you are concerned about your family’s health during the winter and want to know more about how to prepare to keep them healthy with better winter safety, seek out the advice of a doctor or other medical professional. The best treatment is prevention, and it’s important you have peace of mind each winter.