Once you are Informed about winter, you need to Get Prepared. Getting Prepared for winter includes brushing up on your winter driving skills, learning about the fire safety precautions you should take in your home, getting a safety kit for your car, and buying a weather radio.
With snow and ice on the road, you need to remember to adjust your driving habits.
Always wear your seatbelt. It's the law and it can save your life. Around 600 people die each year and 40,000 are injured in traffic accidents on Minnesota roads.
When the roads are slippery, remember to slow down and increase your following distance behind the car in front of you.
Brake gently and steadily to avoid putting your car into a skid. And if your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, be sure you know how to operate them properly.
Drivers of SUVs and other 4-wheel-drive vehicles need to remember that they may have more traction when accelerating their vehicles, but they have the same amount of traction as any other vehicle when braking. Slow down and don't let overconfidence put you in a ditch.
Minnesota law requires that any vehicle operating its windshield wipers must also have its lights on. Having a clean windshield is required by law as well.
Bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads can be especially hazardous in the winter.
While talking on a cell phone, eating or drinking, and reading are dangerous at any time of the year, the hazardous conditions of winter roads make these activities even more foolish. Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Being prepared for winter driving includes having a winter emergency kit in your car. Gather together the items on this list from the Red Cross (.pdf) and you are better prepared should an emergency strike while you are in your car.
When the temperature drops, we turn the heat up in our houses. And other than turning up the thermostat, most of us probably don't think much more about the heat in our house. Unfortunately, heating our homes does have an element of danger. Fireplaces, wood stoves, furnaces and other heating appliances are all potential fire hazards. The U.S. Fire Administration has a brochure on Winter Fires (.pdf) available for download.
Furnaces: Have your furnace inspected every year by a licensed professional. A poorly functioning furnace is not only a fire hazard, but is a potential source of carbon monoxide.
Wood stoves and fireplaces: Like your furnace, these appliances need to be inspected at least yearly to better ensure safe operation. Chimneys must also be inspected. Further information on fireplace and wood stove safety is available through the U.S. Fire Administration. Remember to stack the firewood for these appliances at least 30 feet from your home.
Holiday decorations: While Christmas trees and other holiday decorations are an important part of the winter season, they are also potential fire hazards. A dry Christmas tree can burn in less than a minute. This video shows how quickly a tree can burn and set a room ablaze. Remember to water your tree when the level gets low. Additional information on holiday lighting, candles and decorations is available from the U.S. Fire Administration.
Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can build up in your home and can potentially kill you. Carbon monoxide in homes is generally produced by different types of heating sources, such as furnaces and fire places. The only way to detect this gas in your home is with a carbon monoxide alarm. Similar to a fire alarm, this device will alert you to dangerous levels of the gas. You should install a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your house. All residences in Minnesota are required by law to have a carbon monoxide alarm. Additional information on carbon monoxide and how to reduce your exposure risk is available from the U.S. Fire Service.
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