With the holiday season upon us—and many out of town visitors streaming in with it—be sure to review these cold weather safety tips to keep you and your home safe while you’re catching up with family and friends!
Tips to Keep Your Home Safe:
- Keep snow and ice off of roofs and gutters
- Remove snow from walk ways
- Know where your main water shut off valve is located
- Place covers over outside water faucets
- Check attic for water intrusion
- You may need to turn on and allow to drip, inside water faucets to prevent freezing
- Make sure your heating system is working properly
- If you are not using your fireplace, close the flue
- If you will be going away, set your home to a temperature no lower than 60 degrees
Tips to Keep Yourself and your Family Safe:
- Wear warm clothes- Keep hands and face protected
- Keep clothing dry
- Before entering a heated shelter, brush off the snow
- Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose
- Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion
- If you must go outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing, and proper snow boots to keep your feet dry in case you need to walk through snow
- Keep blankets, extra layers, water and a first aid kit in your vehicle
- Be sure to have an ice scraper, shovel, and any extra fluids your vehicle could need in extreme weather
- Check CDOT for up to date road and weather conditions before traveling
Source: FEMA, III & National Safety CouncilSource FEMA, III & National Safety Council
