- Install a smoke
alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. Test it monthly. If it
has a 9-volt battery, change the battery once a year.
- Install a carbon
monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. If your
alarm sounds, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that
you press the reset button, call emergency services (911 or your local
fire department), and immediately move to fresh air (either outdoors or
near an open door or window). Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache,
fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of
these symptoms, get fresh air right away and contact a doctor for proper
diagnosis.
- Make sure
heating equipment is installed properly. Have a trained specialist inspect
and tune up your heating system each year.
- Keep portable
space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including
bedding, furniture, and clothing. Never drape clothing over a space heater
to dry.
- Keep children
and pets away from space heaters. Never leave children in a room alone
when a space heater is in use.
- If you use a
kerosene heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never
put gasoline in a kerosene heater--it could explode. Before you refuel the
heater, turn it off and let it cool down. Refuel outside only.
- When using a
kerosene heater, keep a door open to the rest of the house or open a
window slightly. This will reduce the chance of carbon monoxide build-up
in the room.
- Have your
fireplace chimney and flue inspected each year and cleaned if needed. Open
the flue and use a sturdy fireplace screen when you have a fire. Burn only
untreated wood; never burn paper or pine branches--pieces can float out
the chimney and ignite your roof, a neighbor's roof, or nearby trees.
- If you use a
wood-burning stove, have the chimney connection and flue checked each
year. Make sure the stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect
the floor from heat and coals.
- Never use your
range or oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
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Surviving a Winter Storm
To
survive a snow or ice storm, follow these safety tips from Extreme Cold: A
prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety, a publication
of CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (see "Safety Resources"
for more information about this booklet).
- Be prepared.
Before cold weather hits, make sure you have a way to heat your home
during a power failure. Keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire
extinguisher nearby when using alternative heating sources.
- Keep on hand
extra blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, matches, a first aid
kit, manual can opener, snow shovel and rock salt, and special needs items
(e.g., diapers).
- Stock a few
days' supply of water, required medications, and food that does not need
to be refrigerated or cooked.
- Monitor the
temperature of your home. Infants and persons over age 65 are especially
susceptible to cold. If it's not possible to keep your home warm, stay
with friends or family or in a shelter.
- Dress in several
layers to maintain body heat. Covering up with blankets can also conserve
heat.
Clearing Snow and Ice
Clearing snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks is hard work. To prevent
injuries, follow these safety tips from the National Safety Council, the
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and other prevention organizations.
- Dress warmly,
paying special attention to feet, hands, nose, and ears.
- Avoid shoveling
snow if you are out of shape. If you have a history of heart trouble, do
not shovel snow unless your doctor says it's okay.
- Do light warm-up
exercises before shoveling and take frequent breaks.
- If possible,
push snow in front of you. If you have to lift it, pick up small amounts
and lift with your legs, not your back. Do not toss snow over your
shoulder or to the side.
- Don't drink
alcohol before or while shoveling snow. Never smoke while shoveling.
- Use rock salt or
de-icing compounds to remove ice from steps, walkways, and sidewalks. Sand
placed on walkways may also help prevent slipping.
- If you use a
snow blower (also called a snow thrower), follow these safety guidelines:
- Read the owner's
manual before starting your snow blower. Make sure you understand all the
recommended safety steps.
- Make sure all
people and pets are out of the way before you begin.
- Do not put your
hand in the snow blower to remove impacted snow or debris. Turn the
machine off and wait a few seconds. Then use a stick or broom handle to
remove the material.
- Do not leave the
snow blower unattended when it is running.
- Fill up with
fuel before you start, when the engine is cool.
Driving Safely In Winter Weather
Snow, ice, and extreme cold can make driving treacherous. These safety tips
from CDC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the
National Safety Council can help make winter car travel safer.
- Before winter
arrives, have your car tuned up, check the level of antifreeze, make sure
the battery is good, and check your tire tread or put on snow tires.
- Keep emergency
gear in your car for everyday trips:
- cell phone
- flashlight
- jumper cables
- sand or kitty
litter (for traction)
- ice scraper,
snow brush, and small shovel
- blankets
- warning
devices (e.g., flares, reflectors)
- For long car
trips, keep food, water, extra blankets, and required medication on hand.
- Avoid driving in
snow or ice storms. If you must travel in bad weather, drive slowly. Let
someone know what route you're taking and when you plan to arrive so they
can alert authorities if you don't get there.
- If your car is
parked outside, make sure the exhaust pipe and the area around it are free
of snow before you start the car. Snow packed in or around the exhaust
pipe can cause high levels of carbon monoxide in the car.
- Don't sit in a
parked car with the engine running unless a window is open. Do not let
your car run while parked in a garage.
- If your car
stalls or gets stuck in snow, light two flares and place one at each end
of the car, a safe distance away. Make sure snow has not blocked the
exhaust pipe. Then stay in your vehicle and open a window slightly to let
in fresh air. Wrap yourself in blankets and run your vehicle's heater for
a few minutes every hour to keep warm.
Walking In a Winter Wonderland
Walking in icy, snowy weather can be dangerous, but these tips from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can help make your trek
safer.
- Dress in layers
and wear boots with nonskid soles. Wear a bright scarf or hat or
reflective gear so drivers can see you.
- Walk on
sidewalks if possible. If sidewalks are covered in snow and ice and you
must walk in the street, walk against the flow of traffic and as close to
the curb as you can.
- Don't wear a hat
or scarf that blocks your vision or makes it hard for you to hear traffic.
- When traveling
with babies or small children, dress them in bright or reflective
clothing. Always keep children--whether in a stroller or on foot--in front
of you and as close to the curb as possible.
- Before you step
off the curb, make sure oncoming cars and trucks have come to a complete
stop.
The Problem: Who Is Affected?
Many injuries occur each winter as
people try to keep their homes warm and get around in cold, stormy weather.
Home Fires December, January, and February are the leading months for home
fires and associated deaths in the United States. About one-third of the
3,250 home-fire deaths in 1998 occurred during these three months. Heating
equipment is the second leading cause of home-fire deaths in the U.S. and
the leading cause during December and January. Hypothermia Each year, more
than 700 people die of hypothermia (low body temperature) caused by extended
exposure to cold temperatures both indoors and out. About half of these
deaths are among persons age 65 and older; men in this age group are more
likely than women to die from hypothermia. Risk factors for hypothermia
include older age; alcohol abuse; homelessness; poverty; mental illness;
chronic diseases such as hypothyroidism; dehydration and malnutrition; and
prolonged exposure to materials that promote heat loss (e.g., water, metal).
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Each year, more than 200 Americans
die from carbon monoxide poisoning. (CO is produced by fuel-burning motor
vehicles, appliances, and heating systems.) In addition, several thousand
individuals are treated in emergency departments for CO poisoning. The risk
of CO poisoning increases during the winter, as more people run furnaces and
space heaters and use fireplaces. Deaths from CO poisoning also occur when
people sit in an idling vehicle with the doors and windows closed. One CDC
study found that motor-vehicle-related CO poisoning exposures increase
during winter months and that death rates from CO poisoning in stationary
motor vehicles are highest in states with colder average winter
temperatures. During just two days in January 1996, 22 people in New York
City died from CO poisoning because their exhaust pipes were packed with
snow, and CO backed up into the vehicle.
Driving-Related Injuries and
Deaths
In 1998, 131,000 motor vehicle
crashes occurred during sleet and snowy conditions. Of these crashes, 30,000
resulted in injuries; more than 600 resulted in deaths. Snow Blower Injuries
Snow blowers
(or snow throwers) are the fourth leading cause of finger amputations
associated with consumer products. These machines cause more than 5,300
emergency department visits and 1,000 amputations each year. Nine deaths
related to snow blowers have been reported since 1992.
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