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Household
Hints & HELP!
Winter
Weather Safety
submitted
by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator
This article appears in the January 16,
2005 Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper.
Winter
weather has finally hit Nebraska. Are you prepared? One
needs to be ready for the weather we experience. It may
be warm, bright and sunny in the morning and by later in
the day the rain, sleet or snow may appear. Being adequately
prepared is very important. Your home as well as your vehicle
must be ready. Winter travel has been treacherous this year.
In
your home you should have supplies for at least three days
in case you are trapped in your home due to winter weather.
Safety is also very important. Dressing properly for working
outside and for snow and ice removal. Be sure to have adequate
snow and ice removal equipment such as shovels, snow blower,
and ice-melt or sand. Snowblower safety is very important.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports two-thirds
of snowblower injuries involve fingers, and -- among consumer
products – snowblower misuse is a leading cause of
finger amputations. In a 1999 study, 3,546 injuries were
found to be snow-blower related accidents. The American
Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) recommends people
take the proper precautions to prevent hand-related injuries
while removing snow. They suggest the following:
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Turn it OFF.
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NEVER put your hand down the chute or around the blades.
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Disengage the clutch.
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Wait five seconds after shutting the machine off to allow
impeller blades to stop rotating.
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ALWAYS use a stick or broom handle to clear impacted snow.
Never use your hand.
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Keep all shields in place. DO NOT REMOVE the safety devices
on the machine.
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Keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.
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Keep a clear head, concentrate.
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DO NOT DRINK alcoholic beverages before or while using
your snowblower.
Should
you cut your finger or hand, apply direct pressure to the
wound with a clean cloth. If continuous pressure does not
slow or stop the bleeding after 15 minutes, an emergency
room visit may be required.
Even
with today’s four-wheel drive vehicles and cell phone
technology travel may seen easier and families can be put
in dangerous situations during the winter. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) suggests every vehicle have winter
travel kit. The kit should contain:
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Shovel
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Windshield scraper
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Battery-powered radio
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Flashlight
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Extra batteries
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Water
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Snack food (candy bars, raisins, dried fruit, granola
bars)
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Mittens/gloves/hat/scarf
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Blanket/sleeping bag
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Tow chain or rope
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Tire chains
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Bag of road salt and sand
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Fluorescent distress flag
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Jumper/booster cables
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Road maps
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Emergency flares
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Cellular telephone or two-way radio, if available
Are
you prepared? If not, take time to put together a travel
kit. Make sure your home is ready for winter and take extra
safety precautions when working outside or during snow removal.
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