A winter storm watch is in effect from Sunday morning through Monday evening and could bring snow, sleet, freezing rain, cold temperatures and ice to parts of Indiana. Ahead of the storm, the American Red Cross Indiana Region urges families to stay safe and take precautions.

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY During a winter storm, stay warm indoors. If you must go outside, take extra precautions.

• Wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth.
• Stay warm to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes are often the first areas affected. Act fast and get out of the cold immediately if you see signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
  • Signs of frostbite include pain, numbness or a change in skin color.
  • Signs of hypothermia, which can be deadly, often include shivering, confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech.
• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with diabetes and children.
• Avoid frozen pipes. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent pipes from freezing. Open cabinet doors to allow warmer air from the rood to get to pipes near sinks.
• Be careful when completing strenuous tasks like shoveling snow. Take frequent breaks.

HOW TO SAFELY HEAT YOUR HOME Home fires account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year — and home fire responses are 30% higher during cold months than warmer times of year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires. Follow these tips on how to safely heat your home:

• If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.
• Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep. 
• Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. 
• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
• Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and practice a two-minute home fire escape plan.

IF YOU NEED HELP If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit redcross.org/indianahomefire to request a free smoke alarm installation.

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY Stay off the road during severe weather, if possible. If you must drive in snow or freezing rain:

• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full and clean the lights and windows to help with visibility.
• Carry an emergency preparedness kit in your car. Be sure to include items like food, warm clothing and blankets, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, a small sack of sand to generate traction under tires and a red or brightly colored cloth to tie to the antenna in case you are stranded.
• Don’t follow other vehicles too closely and don’t use cruise control. Sudden stops are difficult on wet or icy roadways.

RED CROSS APPS 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 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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.