During a Winter Storm
Follow these important steps to protect yourself and your family during a winter storm. Although staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, car crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards.

Many homes will be too cold - either due to power failure or because the heating system isn't adequate for the weather. When people must use space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm, the risk of household fires increases, as well as the risk of CO poisoning.
Protect yourself from CO poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or similar devices indoors. (CO - Carbon Monoxide - is an odorless, colorless toxic gas.)
Caution: CO Kills
Because CO is impossible to see, taste or smell, the toxic fumes can kill you before you are aware of it. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue.  Follow these tips to stay safe:
  • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate the unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow CO to come inside.
  • Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.
  • If the CO alarm sounds, quickly move to a fresh-air location outdoors or near an open window or door.
  • Call for help from the fresh-air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive to help you.
In Your House
  •  Stay inside
  • When using alternate heat from a fireplace, woodstove, space heater, etc., use fire safeguards and properly ventilate the area.
  • Close off unneeded rooms.
  • Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors if you don't have heat.
  • Cover windows at night.
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
  • Remove layers to avoid overheating, sweating and getting the chills.
  • Eat well-balanced meals to help you stay warm. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.
  • Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages - they cause your body to lost heat quickly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Don't Forget About Your Pets
 If you have pets, bring them indoors during extreme weather conditions. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure that they have access to unfrozen water to drink.

In Your Car
  •  Stay in your car.
  • Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna to signal rescuers, and raise the hood (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.
  • Huddle with other people for warmth.
  • Stay awake.
  • Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes each hour, slightly opening one window to let in air. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
  • While seated, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation and stay warm.
Outside
  • Cover all exposed body parts.
  • Find shelter and stay dry.
  • Build a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection from the wind if you can't find shelter.
  • Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
  • Melt snow for drinking water. (Eating unmelted snow will lower your body temperature.)
Watch for Hypothermia
Signs of Hypothermia
  • Shivering
  • Exhaustion, drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Fumbling hands
  • Memory loss
  • Slurred speech
Infants:
  • Bright red, cold skin
  • Very low energy
    • A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently and get emergency assistance immediately. Even if the victim appears dead, CPR should be provided. CPR should continue while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical id becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead an be successfully awakened.
What to Do
If you notice any of these signs, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95oF, the situation is an emergency - get medical attention immediately.  If medical care is not available, begin warming the person as follows:
  • Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.
  • Remove any wet clothing.
  • Warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head and groin) using an electric blanket if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets.
  • Warm beverages can help increase body temperature, but do not give him or her alcohol or caffeine. Do not give beverages to a person who is unconscious.
  • After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including his or her head and neck.
  • Get the person medical attention as soon as possible.
THESE PROCEDURES ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR PROPER MEDICAL CARE. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and must be evaluated by a health care provider.  Take a first aid and emergency CPR course to prepare for cold-weather health problems. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your health and the health of others.

Watch for Frostbite
At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin - frostbite may be starting.  Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:
  • White or grayish-yellow patch(es) of skin.
  • Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.
  • Numbness
A victim is often unaware that he or she has frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

What to Do
If you have symptoms of frostbite, get medical care. Because frostbite and hypothermia both result from cold exposure, first figure out whether the victim also shows sign of hypothermia.

Hypothermia is more serious medical condition and requires immediate emergency medical assistance. If there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and medical care is not available, follow these steps:
  • Get into a warm room as soon as possible.
  • Do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes - this increases the risk of damage.
  • Put the affected area in warm - not hot - water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
  • If warm water is unavailable, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.
  • Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
  • Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and an be easily burned.
THESE PROCEDURES ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR PROPER MEDICAL CARE. Frostbite must be evaluated by a health care provider.  Take a first aid and emergency CPR course to prepare for cold-weather health problems. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your health and the health of others.
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