While snow and cold weather may be a sign of the holidays and fond memories, it can also be dangerous if you aren’t prepared when temperatures begin to fall.
With a majority of the nation currently facing extreme winter weather, the National Weather Service is warning to avoid frostbite, hypothermia, and other dangers that come with the cold.
“People exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia in a matter of minutes. Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it,” the NWS says.
When faced with extreme cold, checking your local weather forecasts and adjusting your schedule around the day’s temperatures is huge.
If you’re expecting extreme cold, avoid being outside during the coldest parts of the day, have a backup plan if you’re traveling, and be prepared for the worst.
This means making sure your car has a full tank, or “at least a half a tank of gas during extreme cold situations so that you can stay warm if you become stranded,” and having necessary supplies like jumper cables, blankets, a charged phone, flashlights, first aid kits, food, water and more.
Depending on who you are traveling with, extreme cold weather can also play a role in what to have in your winter car survival kit, the NWS shared.
If you have children or pets, being appropriately stocked for them is just as important as yourself.
At your home, taking precautions so that your water pipes don’t freeze is big in protecting your property from serious damage.
When temperatures climb further below 10 degrees, the risk of water pipes breaking grows, according to plumber Ken Baker.
Baker shared that letting water run about the thickness of a pencil will help prevent your pipes from freezing during extreme cold snaps. Opening your kitchen or bathroom cabinets can also help, as heat will flow through the area below your sinks.
While you may think it won’t happen to you, Baker says it can happen to anyone.
“We got a lot of older houses that are really drafty, and the wind gets in there. It doesn’t take much, just a little bit of air moving across that pipe, and it will freeze once it gets below 10 (degrees) or so,” Baker said.
The NWS says that extreme cold weather will affect millions of Americans every year, but being prepared can mean the difference between life and death. For more, visit the safety website here.