Cold Weather Safety Tips

Winter can bring some harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures. It is important to be prepared for the colder climate, whether you are indoors or outside. Here are a few simple tips to help you prepare for any winter weather event. 

Prep for the Outdoors

If you plan to spend time outside, be aware of the wind chill and dress appropriately to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.

• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing and keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.
• Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow or walking in deeper snow by taking frequent breaks from the cold.
• Check on loved ones and neighbors, especially the elderly and those who live alone.
• Bring your pets inside during the cold weather if possible and keep salt away from your pet’s paws. Otherwise, provide a sheltered area and access to non-frozen drinking water.

Prepare Your Home

If you live in an area prone to winter storms, be sure to create a communication and disaster plan for your family ahead of time.

• Install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent, deadly killer claiming about 1,000 lives each year in the U.S.
• Never run generators indoors or use a gas oven to heat your home. Use only safe sources of alternative heat, such as a fireplace, a small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters.
• Always keep a screen around an open flame in your fireplace and do not close the damper when the ashes are still hot.
• Protect pipes from freezing by opening cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or near an outer wall. Make sure the heat is left on and is set no lower than 55 degrees.

Power Outages 

When the power goes out, you should notify your local utility of the power outage. If you have selected an energy supply provider, like AEP Energy, you will still need to contact your local utility to report an outage as they maintain and repair power lines and equipment.

• Use flashlights as a lighting source during the day instead of using candles.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food during a prolonged outage. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first and then use food from the freezer.
• Unplug or turn off appliances and devices to avoid power surges when the electricity does come back on.
• If you are using a generator, keep it dry and do not use it in wet conditions.

Winter Driving 

Whenever possible, stay safe by staying off the roads in snow or freezing rain. Plan for adverse weather conditions by checking your vehicle’s battery and fluids such as coolant, oil or wiper fluid.

• Inspect the tires for wear spots and to ensure there is an appropriate amount of tread to handle snowy conditions.
• Prepare an emergency car kit that includes jumper cables and a blanket.
• Use a wintertime mixture of windshield wiper fluid to help efficiently clean your windshield.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in the tank to prevent ice in the tank and gas lines.

Whenever you are expecting a winter storm or extreme cold, be sure to listen to weather forecasts regularly and check your emergency supplies, including your emergency food and water supply.

As the temperature continues to drop, and winter storms may be headed your way, let’s take these preventative steps to get through it safely.

Visit AEP Energy Reward Store to shop for items to keep your home safe in the winter weather.

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