IF TRAPPED IN CAR DURING A BLIZZARD
Stay in the car.
Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You
may become disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow.
Display a trouble sign.
Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood.
Occasionally run engine to keep warm.
Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car is
running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running.
Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe
clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.
Clap hands and move arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay
in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping.
For warmth, huddle together.
Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added
insulation.
Avoid overexertion.
Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling
snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
Wind Chill
"Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects
of temperature and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of
just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees
colder.
Winter Storm Watches and Warnings
A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A winter
storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way.
A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing
snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
Frostbite and Hypothermia
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A
loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are
symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature
drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable
shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the
person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use
your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the
limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a
blanket.
Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with
caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart
to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can
slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures
