Winter Storm Emergency
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Imagine that you are driving down an unfamiliar road and
a winter storm hits. You keep driving several miles with
your windshield wipers working overtime and your defrosters
on full blast. Your attention is geared to the road and
you're struggling to stay in your lane. Fortunately for
you, there have been no cars in sight.
You are not even close to home and the storm is getting
worse. Afraid of getting in an accident, you pull to the
side of the road and hope the storm to pass. Now what? Has
this ever happened to you? If so, you were either very lucky
or just well prepared.
The purpose of this article is to give some
tips on how to survive while being stranded in a vehicle during
a winter storm.
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Stay in your Car
It is very important to stay in your car and conserve heat.
Unless help is visible within 100 meters of your location,
stay in your car. It is very easy to get lost in a snowstorm.
You do however want to try to find extra cloths to put on;
therefore if you have extra cloths in the trunk, it would
be a good idea to get them out. You will want to run your
car for 10 minutes once an hour to keep your car heated.
During the 10 minutes you should be monitoring the weather
channels for the storm updates.
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Stay Warm!
If you are not alone in the car, snuggle to keep warm.
Do not be shy! Continue to put on layers of clothing, newspapers,
bags and floor mats to stay warm.
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Crack your Windows
In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, crack your
windows slightly to allow fresh air to enter your car. Also
make sure that nothing is blocking your exhaust pipe, periodically
checking it is a good idea. |
Display a Trouble Sign
Display a bright color cloth on your antenna. Do not use
white color cloth. In an ideal situation, you want to hang
anything that has a red color, because it symbolizes danger.
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Watch out for Signs of Hypothermia or Frostbite
Hypothermia and frostbite can be very hazardous to your
health. Monitor your fingers and toes for numbness. Your
body automatically pulls blood from those regions and supplies
it to the your vital organs for heat. It is very important
when dressing warm to cover up your stomach to chest area
because this is where your heart, lungs, liver and other
vital organs are located.
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Exercise
If you find yourself getting to cold, step
outside and perform some various exercises. Any exercise that
allows you to use a full range of motion will is idea. CAUTION:
Cold weather puts an added stress on the heart. If you have
heart trouble, do not attempt to perform any rigorous exercise
like shoveling snow or pushing the car. |
Avoid Dehydration
Keep yourself hydrated; it is a fatal misconception that
one cannot dehydrate in cold weather. If you have no fluids,
do not attempt to eat the snow. This will only bring down
your body temperature. Melt the snow. |
Conclusion
Your best defense for a winter storm is
to stay in doors but that is not always the case. The most
important rule to remember is to stay calm and warm. Do not
panic. Keeping your composure and focus on the above tasks!
You should also read up on other related articles like winter
car preparations or winter
survival kit check list. |
| Related Articles:
Winterizing your car. Is your
car in tip-top shape for the cold temperature? Get steps for
winter car maintenance.
Winter survival kit. Are you prepared if you were to be stuck or stranded in the
cold weather? Get the check list. |
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