Daily Preparedness

The turkey leftovers are gone, gifts are being wrapped, and in many parts of the country, snowfall is happening. For those in warmer climates, the impending holiday season often means traveling to or through areas that may become a ‘winter wonderland’ at a moment’s notice. To make certain the bells being rung aren’t yours (when you are stuck in a snowdrift or hit by a car), prepare your car appropriately before heading out. Anyone driving where there is or might be snow, should stock their car with the following (most courtesy of the Loudoun County Virginia Sheriff’s office):

- Properly fitting tire chains
- Bag of sand or salt (or kitty litter)
- Traction mats
- Snow shovel
- Snow brush
- Ice scraper
- Booster cables – also consider when of the ‘instant’ jump devices
- Warning devices such as flares or emergency lights
- Fuel line de-icer (methanol, also called methyl alcohol or methyl hydrate)
- Extra windshield wiper fluid appropriate for sub-freezing temperatures
- Roll of paper towels
- Flashlight and a portable flashing light (and extra batteries)
- Blankets—‘space’ or emergency blankets are small and can be used for signaling.
- Extra clothing, including hat and wind-proof pants, and warm footwear
- First aid kit
- Snack bars or other “emergency” food and water. Don’t forget food for babies!
- Matches and emergency candles. Only use these with a window opened to prevent build-up of carbon monoxide.
- Road maps — Be certain you know where you are going and the current conditions of the roads ahead if you leave a major traffic artery! Do not rely solely on your GPS unit. (One springtime, my family and I were traveling in New Mexico. We left the desert floor and, using a road map, decided to take a more ‘direct route’ than the one recommended to us. The road map was not a geographic map. We ended up going from desert to snow-capped mountains very quickly. It was inconvenient in the spring, but could have been deadly in the winter, especially if we had experienced car trouble! Know what you are driving into!)
- “Call Police” or other help signs on brightly colored banners.
- Spare tire in good condition and ‘instant’ flat repair
- Necessary medications

And a few safe winter driving tips:

Always keep the gas tank topped off. When it gets to half, fill it up.

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make the trip, ensure someone is aware of your route of travel. If you change your route, notify that same person! People are lost every year due to taking ‘short cuts’.

Carry a cellular phone. Your cell phone can be used during emergencies and for notifying those expecting your arrival in case there are weather delays. Make certain you have a car charger and consider purchasing one of the temporary ‘instant chargers’ for at least one cell phone.

Always buckle-up. Your seat belt can be the best protection against drivers who are tense and in a hurry because of weather conditions. All children should be properly restrained all of the time!

Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.

Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.

Leave plenty of room for stopping.

Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back a safe stopping distance and don’t pass on the right.

Know the current road conditions. Check with local safety officials before driving.

Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.

Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer!”

Watch for slippery bridges, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridges will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.

Don’t use your cruise control in wintry or rainy conditions in order to avoid spinning out of control! Even roads that appear clear can have sudden patches of ice or puddles of water that are unnoticeable against the pavement. These patches can instantaneously cause your wheels to lose traction - even for a split second - which causes them to spin at a faster rate. This confuses the cruise control, which misunderstands this momentary increase in rotation to mean that your speed has increased. The cruise control will then apply the brakes, which is the last thing you want to do when you start to lose traction! When the wheels suddenly increase their rotational speed, then suddenly stop, it’s this combination that then causes you to lose traction and spin out of control. When this occurs on puddles of water it’s known as “hydroplaning”, but the same principle can prove to be just as deadly on ice!

Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4×4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop.

Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4×4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.

Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.

Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.

Go slow!

———-This week’s 10×100 Challenge Goals———-

78. Try a new recipe that utilizes at least two items from your long-term storage.

79. Check supply of over-the-counter medicines such as antihistamines, antidiarrheal, pain killers & anti-inflammatories.

80. Check the caulk around tubs, showers and toilets. Repair or replace as needed.

81. Check your credit cards? Current? Do you have too many?

82. Check your credit report for errors.

83. Be certain you are shredding documents with personal information such as insurance numbers, birth dates, account numbers, social security numbers.

84. Google your name to make sure someone is not using it online or writing about you in an unfavorable way.

It is that time of year—Jack Frost is on a rampage bringing with him snowstorms, ice, and colder temperatures. Winter time brings with it special preparedness considerations, which may not only keep your more comfortable but prevent injuries, illness and even death.

Our friends at FEMA suggest the following ways to prepare yourself NOW: (I’ve added a few extra tips to FEMA’s—the most important one being that if a storm is announced STAY HOME!!)

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
• Sand to improve traction
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

• Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. (Don’t forget your food, medical and hygiene needs! Store medication, candles, water, batteries, flashlights and all of those other things we have talked about. Make certain your children know where to go if they are sent home early and you aren’t home. This is also true of children that go to a caregiver’s home—does the caregiver have an alternate safe place for them to go?)
• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. Have your gutters cleaned so that melting snow has a place to go.
• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
• Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow - or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

• Prepare to have a ‘warm room’. If you lose power and thus heat, is there a room in your home that has an alternate heat source adequate for that room? Think through which room would work best, how you can isolate that room and what you would need to be safe and comfortable in that room.

Prepare your car

• Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
  • Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
  • Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
  • Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes andrepair or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
  • Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.
  • Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
  • Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.
  • Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
  • Thermostat - ensure it works properly.
  • Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
• 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.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
• Drive cautiously. No matter how excellent your driving skills are, others around you may not be as attentive or as skilled. Drive defensively, stay off the cell phone and pay attention!
• Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes:
  • a shovel
  • windshield scraper and small broom
  • flashlight
  • battery powered radio
  • extra batteries
  • water
  • snack food
  • matches
  • extra hats, socks and mittens
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Necessary medications
  • blanket(s)
  • tow chain or rope
  • road salt and sand
  • booster cables
  • emergency flares
  • fluorescent distress flag

Dress for the Weather (You might consider storing a spare hat & mittens in each child’s school backpack)

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat.  The majority of heat loss occurs through your head!
  
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Listen Up!

• Pay attention to weather alerts, local news and consider signing up for any of the ‘instant’ alert systems your local jurisdiction offers.

• Heed warnings about staying home, avoiding certain roads, etc.

Stay Well

• Avoid sick people. Winter is also flu season, cold season and increased infection season.
• Wash your hands. Washing hands is the number one way to prevent the spread of illness. Wash your hands diligently before you eat, after using anything in a bathroom, when you get home and before, during and after preparing food.
• Stay hydrated. Though you may not feel as thirsty during cold weather months, your body may actually require more fluid than other times. Drink plenty of water every day!
• Eat well. Eat a variety of foods that are safely prepared!
• Maintain an exercise schedule. Climb the stairs at work, do vigorous house cleaning, visit an indoor pool–whatever you do, keep moving.
• Be cautious. Be very careful walking on slippery surfaces. Ice is incredibly hard and will break your body if you aren’t careful. If you must walk on the ice, consider investing in bands that you can attach to your shoes that aid in traction.
• Clear your sidewalks and porches. As soon as possible after a storm, clear your driveway, sidewalk and porch. If you are not healthy enough to do this safely, hire someone to do it for you.

Take just a little bit of time to prepare and you’ll find yourself laughing in the face of that bad old Jack Frost!