Winter storms and extreme cold
Heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures can cut off roads and power for days. The main dangers are cold, slips and carbon monoxide from unsafe heating, and all of them can be managed.
Before winter
- Keep a supply of food, water, medicines and batteries for several days.
- Have warm clothes, blankets or sleeping bags for everyone.
- Insulate water pipes and know where your main stopcock is.
- Get heating appliances and chimneys checked, and fit a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Keep a winter kit in the car: blanket, warm clothes, torch, shovel, snacks, water and a phone charger.
During a winter storm
- Follow advice from your local authorities and only travel if you really must.
- Heat one room and stay in it. Close internal doors and put draught excluders or towels at the bottom.
- Wear several thin layers, a hat, gloves and warm socks. Dry clothes keep you warmer than damp ones.
- Eat regular meals and have warm drinks. Your body needs fuel to stay warm.
- Keep moving a little to stay warm, but avoid sweating.
- Let taps drip slightly to help stop pipes freezing.
- Check on older neighbours and anyone living alone.
Heating safely
Never use a barbecue, camping stove, generator or outdoor heater indoors, in a garage or tent. Never use a gas cooker or oven to heat your home. These give off carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Headache, dizziness, sickness and sleepiness are warning signs. Get into fresh air and call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America).
If you must go out
- Wear boots with good grip and walk slowly on ice.
- Clear snow gently and take breaks. Heavy shovelling strains the heart.
- If your car gets stuck, stay with it. Run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour for heat, with a window slightly open, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
Cold-weather warning signs
Hypothermia: shivering, confusion, slurred speech, clumsiness and drowsiness. Move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothes, wrap them in blankets and give warm sweet drinks if they're alert. Get medical help.
Frostbite: numb, white or greyish skin on fingers, toes, ears or nose. Warm gently with body heat or lukewarm water. Don't rub it, and don't re-warm it if it might freeze again.
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