WINTER STORMS

Here is advice that will help you and your family against the hazards of winter storms/blizzards, heavy snow, ice storms, freezing rain and or sleet.

KEEP POSTED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS
Use your radio or, television and newspapers to keep informaed of current weather conditions and forecasts in your area. Even with a few hours warning you may be able to avoid being caught in it, or at least be better prepared to cope with it. You should also understand the terms commonly used in weather forecasts.

A Blizzard is the most dnagerus of all winter storms. It combines cold air, heavy snow, and strong wind. These strong winds will cause considerable blowing snow, which may reduce visibility to only a few yards. A Blizzard Warning is issued when the Natinal Weather Sevice expects considerable snow, temperatures below freezing, and winds of 35 miles per hour or more.

A Winter Storm Warning for the lower elevations of Colorado usually measn an expected snowfall of 6 inches or more in a 12 hour period, or 8 inches or more in a 24 hour period. A Heavy Snow Warning or Winter Storm Warning for the MOUNTAINS means an expected snowfall fo 8 inches or more in a 12 hour period.

Freezing Rain or Freezing Drizzle occurs when rain is likely to freeze on the ground, depositing a coating of ice or glaze on roads and everything that is exposed. If a substantial layer of ice is expected to accumulate form freezing rain, A Winter Storm Warning is issued addressing the problems expected to be caused by an accumulation of ice.

BE PREPARED FOR ISOLATION AT HOMES WINTER STORMS

Stock an emergency supply of food and water, as well as emergency cooking equipment such as camp stove. Some of this food and water should be of the type that does not require refrigeration or cooking.

Make sure you have a bettery-operated radio and extra batteries on hand so that if your electric power is cut off you can still hear weather forecasts, information, and advice broadcasts by local authorities. Also flashlights and laterns will be needed. Portable Propane-type heaters could prove valuable in these types of situations, but use with proper precautions.

Keep on hand the simple tools and equipment needed to fight a fire. Also be certain that all family memebrs know how to take precations that would prevent fire at such time, when the help of the fire department might not be available immediately.

IN A WINTER STORM, TAVEL ONLY IF NECESSARY.
Avoid all unnecessary trips. If you must travel, use public trnasportaion if possible. Hoever, if you are forced to use your automobile for a trip of any distance, take these precautions:

DRESS FOR THE SEASON. If you spend a lot of time indoors, wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than a single layer of thick clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Use a stocking cap to protect your head and a facemask that covers your mouth to protect your lungs form extremely cold air.

Make sure your car is in good condition, properly serviced, and equipped with chains or snow tires.

Take another person with you if possible.

Make sure someon knows where you are going, your approximate schedule, and your estmated time of arrival at your destination.

If you see downed power lines - KEEP AWAY.

It is recommended that you have a full tank of gasoline in your vehicle, along with emergency winter storm supplies, such as a container of sand, shovel, windshield scraper, tow chain or rope, and flashlight. It is also good to have heavy gloves or mittens, overshoes, extra woolen socks, winter headgear to cover you head and face, battery operated radio and food.

Travel by daylight and use major highways if you can. Keep vehicle radio tuned for weather information and advice.

Drive with caution. Don't try tosave time by traveling faster that weather conditions permit. Stay off closed roads.

Don't be daring or foolhardy. Stop, turn back or seek help if conditions exist that may test your ability or endurance, rather than risk being stalled, lost or isolated. Don't risk becoming stranded in a BLIZZARD.

KEEP CALM IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE. If you vehicle breaks down during a winter tstorm or if you become stalled or lost, don't panic. Think the problem through, decide what's the safest thing to do, and do it slowly and carefully. If you are on a well travled road, show a trouble (flasher) signal. Set your directional lights to flashing, raise the hood of your vehicle, or hang a cloth from the radio attenna or vehicle window. Then stay in your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. If you run the engine to keep warm, remember to open a window enough to provide ventilation and make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning. You can keep yourself warm by performing simple exerceses while sitting in your vehicle.

Wherever you are, if there is no house or other source of help in sight, do not leave your vehicle to search for assitance as you may become confused and get lost.

AVOID OVEREXERTION. Every winter many unecessary deaths occur because peple - especially the elderly, but younger ones as well - engage in more strenuous physical activity that thier bodies can stand. Cold itself, WITHOUT any physical exertion, puts and extar strain on your heart.

If you add to this physical exertion especially exercise that you are not accustomed to - such as shoveling snow, pushing an automobile, or even walking fast or far - you are risking a heart attack, a stroke, or damage to your body. In winter waether, and especially in winter storms, be aware of this danger and avoid overexertion.

HYPOTHERMIA. Hypothermia can occur in a exposure to severly cold weather. Symptoms can range from forst bite, a white or waxy appearance of the skin with pain or numbeness, to severe hypothermia, where the vistim may have an altered level of consciousness, slurred sppeech, staggering gate, or breating problems. If this occurs, remove the person form the cold. Remove wet clothing and replace with dry clothing or a blanket. Warm the patient gradually with blanktes or chemica warming packs. Do NOT rub the body. Treat gently. Rough or excessive handling could casue the condition to worsen. Do NOT give coffee or alochol. Warm fluids can be given after re-warming has taken place.