Preparing for Winter Weather

 With winter weather here, now is the time to prepare your vehicle and your home for the cold weather.

 Vehicle preparedness and safety...

• Plan your travel and check the latest forecasts.  Avoid winter storms whenever possible.
• Check and winterize your vehicle before starting your travel.
• Let someone know your timetable and your primary and alternate travel routes.
• Keep your gas tank near full to prevent ice from forming in the fuel lines.
• If you encounter sleet or freezing rain, drive extremely cautiously.  Even four-wheel drive vehicles will have difficulty on icy roads.
• If you are planning travel into an area which experiences significant winter storms, carry a winter storm survival kit including blankets, flashlight, high-calorie snack foods, sand, a tow rope, booster cables, and a water container.

Preparing your home...

• The primary concerns at home are the potential loss of power and telephone service.  If winter weather conditions last for more than a day, then a shortage of supplies may also be a concern.
• Make sure that water pipes near outside walls are well insulated. Repair any leaks that may expose pipes to cold air.
• Have a flashlight and extra batteries available.  Use flashlights rather than candles if the electricity goes out.
• Use a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and a portable radio to receive emergency information. As we are in the holiday season, please note that weather radios make excellent gifts.
• If you have a fireplace or wood stove, make sure you have a good supply of firewood.  Learn to use any emergency heating sources properly, to prevent a fire.
• Keep extra medicine, baby items, and first-aid supplies on hand.
• Close off unneeded rooms and place towels or rags in cracks under the doors.
• Check on friends or family members whose health or age may place them at greater risk from severe winter weather.

Candle Safety

Candles may be pretty to look at but they are growing cause of home fires—and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame, meaning that it can easily ignite any combustible material nearby. And because candle fires spread so quickly, it’s essential that you have working smoke detector and a home fire escape plan. Follow these tips to help you use candles safely:

Reducing the risk

• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Almost half of all home fires started by candles begin in the bedroom. NFPA discourages the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn including curtains, blinds, wallpaper, clothing or any other material that can catch fire.
• Don’t place lit candles in windows or near doorways where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.
• Keep candles away from flammable liquids.

“Candle with Care”

• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that can’t burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface—away from edges and any place where they could be knocked over by kids or pets.
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch.
• Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two inches of their holder or any decorative material.
• Extinguish candles carefully, using a long-handled candle snuffer or a soft, directed breath. Be careful not to splatter wax when extinguishing. Do not leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.
• Avoid using candles during a power outage. Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting on hand for emergency lighting.

Candles and kids

• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a burning candle.
• Don’t allow kids or teens to burn candles in their bedrooms.
• Don’t let kids play with candles or dripping wax – or with materials that could catch fire near candles.
• Store matches and lighters up high and out of children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.