People in the northwestern corner of the country and Northern Plains should get ready for snow as the first significant winter storm of the year heads in their direction over the next few days.
The National Weather Service reports some areas could see as much as a foot of snow with higher amounts in the Rocky and Cascade mountains.
The American Red Cross has steps you should take to stay safe during this dangerous cold weather.
WINTER WEATHER SAFETY Get ready now. Be sure to check on family and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards — young children, older adults and the chronically ill. Winter weather can bring life-threatening conditions. Follow these steps to help you stay safe:
Stay indoors and wear layers of loose fitting, lightweight warm clothes.
Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle or walking in deep snow. Take frequent breaks during these activities.
Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.
Make sure you have enough heating fuel on hand.
Protect pipes from freezing.
If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.
STAY SAFE OUTSIDE Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. This will reduce your chances of muscle injury.
Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks.
If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation if possible. About 70% of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in vehicles.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE To avoid frostbite and hypothermia, be aware of the wind chill and dress appropriately. Get out of the cold immediately if signs of hypothermia or frostbite appear. These signs include shaking uncontrollably, getting extremely tired, turning very pale or getting numb fingers, toes, ears or nose. To treat someone who may have hypothermia or frostbite, gently warm them by wrapping them in a blanket and giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods. Call 911 if these signs are severe.
Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.
