Baby, it’s cold outside, and if you live in the Southeast, it’s about to get colder. This time of year, grocery stores in the Carolinas have a run on bread and milk, children start dreaming about what to do on any sudden days of freedom from school, and parents everywhere start surveying last year’s snow clothes and boots to see if by some miracle, any of it still fits their kids. Cozy up ladies and gentlemen, because the forecast says we may get winter weather knee deep to a giraffe this weekend!
As we prepare for snowmaggeden, it’s important to remember the Five Ps of Cold Weather Safety:
- People – Check on family members and neighbors. With power outages, they may not have ways to access emergency services or help if needed.
- Pets – Bring pets indoors if possible. If they must remain outdoors, be sure they have an insulated shelter and access to non-frozen water and keep their paws free of any salt spread on sidewalks, driveways, and roadways. Remember our four-legged family members get cold too, even with fur coats.
- Pipes – Prevent freezing by letting faucets drip hot and cold water and opening any bathroom and kitchen cabinets to allow warm air in. Also remember to disconnect your drain hoses and use faucet covers over outdoor spigots. If pipes do freeze never use an open flame to warm them, instead grab a hair dryer.
- Plants – Some of us have greener thumbs than others (I’m not one of them) and have thriving plants. Don’t forget to move plants indoors and cover outdoor plants that can’t come in.
- Power – Prepare for power outages and have an emergency storm kit prepared including food and water for all household members for several days. If you need information on preparing a storm kit, we have a full video on what should be in your kit here – https://youtu.be/rcELXPhHrJE
Besides stocking up on hot chocolate and toilet paper, there are definitely some important tasks to tend to the next day or so to prepare. As you venture to the stores this week, there are additional key purchases to go alongside those new mittens and sleds. This is a great time to make sure you stock up on batteries, that you have working flashlights available, and that you make plans for safely keeping temperatures in your home at a maintainable level.
Often accompanying the snow, we also run into a glazing or accumulation of ice, and that can lead to power outages. It’s important to know how you should and shouldn’t stay warm inside your home. While those propane and kerosene heaters may be tempting, it’s important to remember that they can be a huge safety hazard – both to your home and to your body. Not only can an accidental tip-over cause a fire quickly, but these types of devices can also lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide that can turn fatal. Further, never use a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows due to carbon monoxide concerns. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector, grab one this week!
Some better options, though they are more passive, are to use the power of the sun – open curtains and blinds during daylight hours to let the sun in and close them at night to help trap the residual heat. It’s also a good idea to block drafts under doors and around windows to prevent escaping heat and stop the flow of cold exterior air from intruding. In addition, blankets and hot water bottles are a good solution for personal warmth, as well as dressing in layers, even indoors.
If you are lucky enough to have your power stay on and your house warm, there are additional hazards you’ll want to consider regarding the roof and structure of your home. When inches of ice collect on roofs and interior ambient heat rises to the ceiling, it’s not uncommon for a phenomenon called Ice Damming to occur. Ice Damming occurs when the heat from the home melts the bottom layer of snow; the freezing temperatures outdoors refreezes that thaw water into ice. Ice Damming can lead to interior water leaks, so make sure that you check your ceilings in the days following snowfall. Additionally, the weight of ice and snow can become dangerous – enough to actually collapse some roofs – so if you have a metal roof or live in a home with a low slope or non-shingled roofing type, it’s important to make sure you watch out for how much accumulates and remove it once it reaches a few inches of depth.
If you are brave enough to venture outside, dress in layers and cover extremities including a hat, mittens, and a scarf. Avoid any overexertion. If you are inclined to shovel your driveway, be sure to stretch before beginning and pace yourself by working slowly and taking frequent breaks.
If it becomes necessary for you to drive on snowy and icy roads, be sure to focus on vehicular safety. Prepare a survival kit to include jumper cables, flashlights, a shovel, blankets, and sand (or kitty litter) for traction. Slow down and be sure to increase the following distances. It is important not to set your cruise control on ice- or snow-covered roads as well. Lastly, if you end up stranded in your vehicle, run the engine only 10 minutes every hour to stay warm, after ensuring the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
And the ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By implementing these tips, you can mitigate some risks associated with cold weather conditions. To learn more, connect with Sentinel today and learn why we are Built to be More than a Broker. Stay safe and enjoy this winter season!
