Staying safe in a winter storm means reducing exposure to cold, using heat sources carefully, and knowing the signs of cold-related illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says winter storms can bring power failures, loss of communication services, and icy roads that make being outside dangerous. The National Weather Service outlines life-saving actions outside, in vehicles, and inside homes or offices during a storm.
How to stay safe indoors
The CDC advises heating the home safely and taking extra steps if the power goes out. It says to have extra heat sources such as extra blankets, sleeping bags, warm winter coats, a fireplace that is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace, or portable space heaters or kerosene heaters where legal. The CDC states that turning on a stove for heat is not safe.
The CDC advises using space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements, keeping them at least three feet from flammable materials, never placing them on furniture or near water, and never leaving children unattended near them. The CDC says not to run cords under rugs, to avoid extension cords, and not to use any space heater with a damaged cord or that produces sparks. The CDC also says to use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-burning heaters only when they vent correctly to the outdoors, and to use only the fuel the heater is designed to use.
The NWS advises staying inside and, when using fireplaces, wood stoves, or space heaters, to use fire safeguards and proper ventilation. The NWS also says to make sure a gas furnace is not blocked by a snowdrift when it is safe to check.
Heat, light, and generator safety
If there is a power failure, the CDC advises using battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles when possible, since candles can lead to house fires. If candles are used, the CDC says never to leave them unattended. The CDC directs readers to its power outage guidance for more details.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the CDC says generators should be no closer than 20 feet to any windows, doors, or vents, and positioned where precipitation cannot get to it, and to install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector. The CDC states to never use generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside a home, in basements, in garages, or near windows, because the fumes are deadly. The CDC adds to plug appliances into the generator using individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords, not to use the generator or appliances if they are wet, and not to store gasoline indoors.
To conserve heat if heat goes out, the NWS advises closing off unneeded rooms, stuffing towels or rags in cracks under doors, and closing blinds or curtains to keep in heat. The NWS also advises eating and drinking to help the body produce heat and to wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, removing layers to avoid overheating. The CDC similarly advises avoiding unnecessarily opening doors or windows, closing off unneeded rooms, stuffing towels or rags under doors, and covering windows with blankets or closing draperies at night to keep heat inside.
Water, food, and special considerations at home
The CDC says extreme cold can freeze and break water pipes. It advises leaving taps slightly open so they drip, keeping the home warm, and allowing heated air to reach pipes by opening cabinet doors beneath sinks. If pipes freeze, the CDC says not to thaw them with a torch, to thaw slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer, and to use bottled water or a neighbor’s water if needed; snow can be melted for water in an emergency, and boiling water at a rolling boil for one minute kills most germs, but will not remove chemicals sometimes found in snow.
The CDC advises eating well-balanced meals to help stay warmer and avoiding alcoholic or caffeinated beverages because they cause the body to lose heat faster, suggesting warm, sweet beverages or broth if appropriate. The NWS also advises drinking lots of water and other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic drinks to prevent dehydration because cold air is very dry. For infants, the CDC says babies under one year of age should not sleep in a cold room, to remove pillows and soft bedding, to dress them in warmer sleep clothing, to maintain a warm indoor temperature, and, in an emergency, to use body heat while taking precautions to prevent rolling on or smothering.
The CDC says older adults often make less body heat and advises checking on older friends and neighbors frequently to confirm their homes are adequately heated. It also advises anyone over 65 years of age to check the home temperature often during extremely cold weather.
What to wear and do outdoors
The CDC advises trying to stay indoors during extremely cold weather and making any trips outside as brief as possible. It recommends wearing a hat; a scarf or knit mask to cover the face and mouth; sleeves that are snug at the wrist; mittens, which are warmer than gloves; a water-resistant coat and boots; and several layers of loose-fitting clothing. The CDC explains that inner layers of wool, silk, or polypropylene hold more body heat than cotton; insulation layers of wool, goose down, or fleece help retain heat; and the outermost layer should be tightly woven and preferably water and wind resistant.
The CDC says to stay dry because wet clothing chills the body quickly, to remove extra layers if too warm to avoid excess sweating, and not to ignore shivering, which is an early sign of heat loss. It also advises avoiding getting gasoline or alcohol on skin during de-icing, fueling, or using a snow blower because these materials cause greater heat loss. The CDC says walking on ice is extremely dangerous and advises using rock salt or chemical de-icers and sand on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.
The NWS advises that, outside during a storm, the goal is to find shelter, stay dry, and cover exposed skin. If no shelter is nearby, the NWS says to build a lean-to, windbreak, or snow cave for wind protection and to build a fire for heat and to attract attention, placing rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat. The NWS also advises melting snow for drinking water because eating unmelted snow will lower body temperature, and to exercise limbs from time to time to keep blood circulating while avoiding overexertion such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow if not in good health, because the strain may cause a heart attack; sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
Travel and vehicle safety in a storm
The CDC advises listening for travel advisories from the National Weather Service, not traveling in low visibility, avoiding ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges, and never pouring water on a windshield to remove ice or snow. The CDC says that if travel by car is necessary, use tire chains and take a mobile phone, let someone know the destination and expected arrival time, check and restock winter emergency supplies, and carry extra warm clothing and blankets. The CDC advises that staying in a car when stranded is often the safest choice in poor visibility or on ice-covered roadways and details steps to increase safety, including tying a brightly colored cloth to the antenna, raising the hood if it is not snowing, running the motor and heater about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly, ensuring the exhaust pipe is not blocked, moving arms and legs, not eating snow, and huddling for warmth.
The NWS advises slowing down because roads that look wet may be slick, fully clearing ice and snow from a vehicle before starting a trip, letting someone know the route, and carrying a charged cell phone, a car charger, and an emergency supply kit. The NWS says that if a vehicle begins to skid, remain calm, ease off the gas, and turn the wheels in the direction to steer the front of the car; for anti-lock brakes, apply steady pressure and never pump the brakes. If visibility is poor, the NWS advises pulling over and stopping until it improves, turning off lights, and using the parking brake so another car will not follow tail lights and collide.
Hypothermia and frostbite: signs and actions
The CDC describes hypothermia as an abnormally low body temperature that occurs with exposure to very cold temperatures. Warning signs in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and sleepiness; in infants, indications include bright red, cold skin and very low energy. The CDC says hypothermia is a medical emergency and that if a temperature is below 95° F, medical attention is needed immediately; if help is not available right away, it advises trying to warm the person.
The CDC states that frostbite is an injury caused by freezing that usually affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes, can permanently damage the body, and in severe cases can lead to amputation. Signs include a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness. The CDC says to seek medical care if signs of frostbite appear and to take steps to protect oneself and others if care is not immediately available.
Preparing for extreme cold
The NWS advises planning for extreme cold in advance to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. It recommends checking forecasts, adjusting schedules to avoid the coldest part of the day, dressing for the outdoors even for short trips, and protecting pets, livestock, and property from extreme cold. The NWS also advises keeping at least a half tank of gas so heat is available if stranded and updating a winter car survival kit with items such as jumper cables, flashlights and batteries, a first aid kit and needed medications, non-perishable food and water, tools, pet supplies, a radio, traction materials such as cat litter or sand, a shovel, an ice scraper, warm clothing, warmers, blankets or sleeping bags, and a charged cell phone with a spare charger.