Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness: Winter Storms

A winter storm can range from several inches of snow over a few hours to blizzard conditions that last several days

Safety Messages for Kids

• The best way to stay safe in a snowstorm is to stay inside.

• If you go outside to play after a snowstorm, dress in many layers and wear a hat and mittens. Come inside often for warm-up breaks.

• If you start to shiver a lot or get very tired... or if your nose, fingers, toes or ear lobes start to feel numb or turn really pale... come inside right away and tell an adult.

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Action Steps for Adults

• There are ways to dress children in cold weather that will keep them warmer. Many layers of thin clothing are warmer than single layers of thick clothing. One of the best ways to stay warm is to wear a hat; most body heat is lost through the top of the head. Keep hands and feet warm too. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Covering the mouth with a scarf protects lungs from extremely cold air.

• Teach children how to watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, nose or ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. Uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion are symptoms of hypothermia. If you suspect frostbite or hypothermia, warm the child and seek immediate medical assistance.

• Children should also avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart.

• In your home, have available some kind of emergency heating equipment and fuel so you can keep at least one room of your home warm. If your furnace is controlled by a thermostat, and the power goes out, you will need emergency heat.

• If you are trapped in your car during a snowstorm, stay there. Leave the car only if help is visible within 100 yards. To attract attention, hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the trunk. Turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater and turn on the dome light when the car is running. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and open a downwind window for slight ventilation.