Winter Storms
Car Travel
Slips and Falls
Skin Care
Winter Outdoors Activities
Skiing
Skating
Hockey
Sledding/Tobogganing/Snowmobiling
Winter Storms
As the likelihood of winter storms increases, it's important to track storm conditions and prepare yourself, your family and your home accordingly.
Inside:
| Tip: | Know the difference between winter storm watches and warnings. A winter storm WATCH means a winter storm is possible in your area. A winter storm WARNING means a winter storm is headed for your area. |
| Tip: | Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information. |
| Tip: | Keep extra blankets on hand in the house and in your car. Ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat, and water-resistant boots. |
| Tip: | Assemble a winter storm supply kit containing a fully stocked First Aid Kit, like RED CROSS® Johnson & Johnson Ready Organized First Aid Kits which contains 170 essential items; a battery-powered NOAA Weather radio; flashlight; extra batteries; canned food and opener; bottled water; and extra warm clothing. |
| Tip: | Winterize your home before the start of the storm season. Insulate pipes to prevent water from freezing and bursting them; weatherproof doors and windows; secure fireplace flues; have your chimney inspected; replace aging dial controls with a new, programmable thermostats; put a throw rug over tile or cold floors |
Outside:
| Tip: | Stay indoors during a winter storm. If you must go outside, several layers of lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs. |
| Tip: | Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin. As winds increase, heat is carried away from a person's body at an accelerated rated, driving down the body temperature. |
| Tip: | Walk carefully on snowy, icy, sidewalks. |
| Tip: | After the storm, if you shovel snow, be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous work, so take frequent breaks. Avoid overexertion. |
Car Travel
Severe winter weather often poses a dangerous risk to drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you are 36 percent more likely to be in a car accident in January than July.
| Tip: | Avoid traveling by car in a winter storm, but if you must, carry a well-stocked First Aid Kit and a blanket in the trunk or under your seat. Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use. |
| Tip: | Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route. |
| Tip: | Stay at a speed where you feel most comfortable. Speed limits are for ideal conditions and it can take a vehicle nine times longer to come to a stop in wintry conditions, so keep a safe distance between you and the cars in front of you. Never use cruise control while driving in snow or ice. |
| Tip: | If you begin to lose traction, look and steer your car in the direction you want to go. Do not turn into a spin. |
| Tip: | If your car gets stuck...
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Slips and Falls
Colder temperatures mean snow and ice on the roads and walkways-conditions that can cause many accidents. Being prepared can prevent many accidents at work and at home.
| Tip: | Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous, so wearing proper footwear is essential. A pair of well-insulated boots with good rubber treads is a must for walking during or after a winter storm. |
| Tip: | When walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway, take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction. |
| Tip: | Walking on wet floors can be hazardous. When entering a building after walking on snow or ice, avoid tracking it in on your shoes as it will quickly melt and create hazardous walking conditions. Brush the snow and ice off your boots, shake your umbrella and outer clothing, and if possible, leave your boots and coat in an outer room so they can dry. |
| Tip: | Remove snow and ice from walking surfaces or apply non-skid materials to increase traction. Walkways should be cleared of snow and ice as soon as possible following a storm using a snow blower or by shoveling. |
Skin Care
Colder temperatures can wreak havoc with our skin, the most common winter hazards being hypothermia and frostbite. The best way to prevent these conditions is to avoid exposure to cold temperatures. If you must be outdoors in cold weather there are some precautions you can take.
| Tip: | To prevent hypothermia keep a warm covering on your head, as over half of the body's total heat production can be lost through a bare head. Dress in layers, and be sure clothing does not become wet, as moisture is a good conductor of cold temperature. Avoid contact with cold surfaces, as the body's heat will transfer to the cold surface, especially if the clothing is wet. Wear wind-proof clothing, as wind removes warm air, which insulates the body. Wear a scarf over the mouth and nose to minimize heat lost due to respiration. |
| Tip: | To avoid suffering frostbite, follow the same guidance regarding clothing as described above, and be sure hat, warm gloves, boots and headgear is worn, as the extremities are the most likely areas to become frostbitten. Infants and small children are especially prone to cold weather injuries, so it is critical that they wear adequate clothing. |
| Tip: | In cold weather, you may not feel minor wounds like cuts and abrasions on your hands and feet while outside. When you come in from the cold, give your hands and feet a once-over. Treat all minor scrapes and abrasions on hands and feet before you venture outside, keeping wounds clean and covered with a BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandage to avoid infection and promote healing. |
| Tip: | Harsh winds, coupled with the vast difference in indoor and outdoor temperature create a brutal environment for your skin, and can lead to severe chapping and cracking. Treat painful dry skin that requires extra care with Johnson & Johnson RED CROSS® First Aid Skin Crack Ointment. |
Winter Outdoors Activities
Winter wonderland means fun for millions, but for 183,000 Americans winter also may mean serious sports-related injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 84,000 skiers, 30,000 skaters, 30,000 hockey players, 20,000 sledders and tobogganers, and 19,000 snowmobilers will require hospital emergency room treatment for injuries this year.
For minor winter outdoors injuries, RED CROSS® Johnson & Johnson Ready Organized First Aid Kits includes 150 essential items to clean, treat and protect minor cuts and scrapes. Whether you are participating in outdoor activities such as these or simply walking to and from your car in wintry conditions, this kit is a must-have for the winter season.
| Tip: | Take lessons from an expert. Studies show that beginners are injured more frequently-practicing with a pro can help you avoid treacherous falls. |
| Tip: | Use good quality, well-fitting equipment. Be sure that equipment is clean--no dirt or salt between boots, bindings, and binding mechanism. |
| Tip: | Proper adjustment of bindings could lessen the likelihood of leg injuries. Beginners might test abilities to get out of bindings with muscle power by standing in the skis and twisting and pulling to release the toe and heel pieces. |
| Tip: | Approach tow lifts with caution. Beware of long scarves that could become entangled in the towrope. |
| Tip: | Never tackle a slope that is obviously beyond personal skiing abilities. Ski marked trails and observe ski trail signs. |
| Tip: | Never skate alone. Insist that children skate with a friend or in a group. |
| Tip: | Stick to shallow flooded fields and supervised areas. Never skate on lakes, ponds, or rivers until a local official has tested the ice. Never skate close to open bodies of water. |
| Tip: | Keep small children off the ice except when closely supervised by adults. |
| Tip: | Never build fires or drive on ice-covered lakes, ponds or rivers. |
| Tip: | Wear well-fitting equipment - helmets, pads and gloves. |
| Tip: | Be a good sport. Many people are seriously injured during horseplay. |
Sledding/Tobogganing/Snowmobiling
| Tip: | Never sled on the street or on hills that lead directly into the street. Accidents occur when sledders hit bumps, curbs, or ram a car. Also, never hook rides on the bumpers of cars. |
| Tip: | Keep hands, arms, and legs inside to avoid limb injuries. |
| Tip: | Control your speed. |
| Tip: | Wear goggles, helmets with chinstraps, and protective clothing. |
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