Safety Guidelines: During & After a Winter Storm

Protect yourself during and after winter storms

Winter storms are dangerous. They can bring cold temperatures, power failures, loss of communication services, and icy roads. This can make being outside dangerous, so you should limit your time outside. Although staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face hazards inside your home.

Indoors

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Protect yourself and your loved ones during a winter storm. Take extra steps to make sure you heat your home safely, and follow the tips below.

Heat your home safely.

If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely careful. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember these safety tips:

Have extra heat sources in case the power goes out.

Have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out:

• Extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats
• Fireplace that is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace
• Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters. Check with your local fire department to make sure that kerosene heaters are legal in your area.

Use space heaters safely.

• Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements.
• Keep heat sources, like space heaters, at least 3 feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials. Never cover your space heater.
• Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
• Never leave children unattended near a space heater.
• Make sure that the cord of an electric space heater is not a tripping hazard, but do not run the cord under carpets or rugs.
• Avoid using extension cords to plug in your space heater.
• If your space heater has a damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, do not use it.

Follow additional heat safety guidelines.

• Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak gas from the flue or exhaust into the indoor air space.
• Make sure you have proper ventilation if you must use a kerosene heater.
• Have your heating system serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Do not burn paper in a fireplace.
• Use only the type of fuel your heater is designed to use—don't substitute.

Light your home safely.

If there is a power failure:

• Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible. Candles can lead to house fires.
• If you do use candles, never leave lit candles unattended.
• Visit What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage for more information on power outage safety.

Use generators and other appliances safely.

• Generators should be located at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent and in a space where rain and snow will not reach them.
• Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector.
• Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows. The fumes are deadly.
• Plug in appliances to the generator using individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords.
• Do not use the generator or appliances if they are wet.
• Do not store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.

Conserve heat.

• Some gas-fueled heaters, such as vent-less gas fireplaces, require some ventilation. Otherwise, if you don't need extra ventilation, keep as much heat as possible inside your home.
• Avoid unnecessarily opening doors or windows.
• Close off unneeded rooms.
• Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
• Close draperies or cover windows with blankets at night.

Make sure babies and older adults stay warm.

Babies

Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults. Follow these tips to keep your baby safe and warm during the extreme cold:

• Remove any pillows or other soft bedding. These can increase the risk of smothering and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Dress babies in warmer clothing such as footed pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets, or sleep sacks.
• Try to maintain a warm temperature inside your home. If you're not able to keep your home warm, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere.
• In an emergency, you can keep your baby warm using your own body heat. If you must sleep, take precautions to prevent rolling on or smothering your baby.

Older Adults

Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. Check on older friends and neighbors often to make sure their homes are heated properly.

If you are over 65 years of age, check the temperature in your home often during extremely cold weather.

Keep a water supply.

Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes rupture or break. When you are expecting very cold or freezing temperatures:

• Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
• Keep the temperature inside your home warm.
• Allow heated air to reach pipes. For example, open cabinet doors beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
• If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.
• If you cannot thaw your pipes, or the pipes have broken open, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor's home.
• As an emergency measure, if no other water is available, snow can be melted for water. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most germs but won't get rid of chemicals sometimes found in snow.
• Learn more on how to use safe water after a natural disaster or emergency.

Eat well-balanced meals, and avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.

Eating well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer. Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages—they cause your body to lose heat faster. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help keep yourself warm. If you have any dietary restrictions, ask your doctor.

Outdoors

Try to stay indoors during extremely cold weather. Make any trips outside as brief as possible, and remember these tips below to protect your health and safety.

Dress warmly and stay dry.

Adults and children should wear:

• a hat
• a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
• sleeves that are snug at the wrist
• mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
• water-resistant coat and boots
• several layers of loose-fitting clothing

Dress in layers.

Additional Tips:

• Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body quickly.
• Excess sweating will cause your body to lose more heat, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.
• Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. Getting these materials on your skin will cause your body to lose a lot more heat.
• Do not ignore shivering—it's an important first sign that your body is losing heat. Constant shivering is a sign that it is time to go inside.
• If you have asthma, breathing in cold, dry air can trigger an asthma attack. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent asthma attacks when outside in winter weather and remember to follow your Asthma Action Plan.

Stay off the ice.

Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many injuries related to cold weather happen from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand may also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.

Be safe during outdoor activities.

• Let your friends and family know where you will be before you go hiking, camping, or skiing.
• Do not leave any areas of your skin exposed to the cold, and avoid getting wet.
• Try not to sweat or become too tired.
• Be prepared to take emergency shelter.
• Pack dry clothing, a two-way radio, waterproof matches, and paraffin fire starters with you.
• Do not use alcohol and other mood altering substances, and avoid caffeinated drinks.
• Avoid walking on ice.
• Carefully watch for signs of cold-weather health problems, like hypothermia and frostbite.

Avoid exerting yourself, and stay safe during cleanup.

Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly to avoid excess sweating. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it.

Visit Clean Up Safely After a Disaster for more information on safe cleanup after a disaster.

Be careful while traveling.

• Listen for radio or television reports of travel advisories issued by the National Weather Service.
• Do not travel in low visibility conditions.
• Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.
• Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow—this can cause your windshield to shatter.
• If you must travel by car, use tire chains and take a mobile phone with you.
• If you must travel, let someone know your destination and when you expect to arrive. Ask them to notify authorities if you are late.
• Check and restock the winter emergency supplies in your car before you leave.
• Always carry extra warm clothing and blankets with you. Don't rely on a car to provide enough heat. The car could break down.

If you get stranded:

Staying in your car when stranded is often the safest choice if winter storms create poor visibility or if roadways are ice covered. These steps will increase your safety when stranded:

• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna as a signal to rescuers and raise the hood of the car (if it is not snowing).
• Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area.
• Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets, or newspapers.
• Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems.
• Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe—this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation and stay warmer.
• Do not eat snow because it will lower your body temperature.
• Huddle with other people for warmth.

Frostbite and hypothermia

Know the signs and symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) is a dangerous condition that can happen when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures.

In adults, warning signs of hypothermia include:

• Shivering
• Exhaustion or feeling very tired
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness

In babies, signs include bright red, cold skin, and very low energy.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It can lead to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation (removing the affected body part).

Signs of frostbite include:

• A white or grayish-yellow skin area
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

Resources

• Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
• Winter Weather | Ready.gov
• Winter Storm Preparedness & Blizzard Safety | Red Cross
• Winter (weather.gov)