You're in the car, and your planned one-hour trip has turned into a white hell: visibility is near zero, drifts of snow have hemmed you in, and you're not going anywhere – for hours at least. What to do?
• Don't panic. Stay in the shelter of your car and wait for rescue.
• Run the motor sparingly, for only as long as it takes to keep the cold at bay. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, occasionally check to ensure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
• Open a window periodically on the side away from the wind to get an adequate supply of fresh air.
• Keep moving your hands, arms and feet.
• Don't fall asleep.
• Keep an eye open for assistance.
If you have a cellphone and are in a serviced area, dial 911 and speak to emergency services. Tell them where you are, your name, the names of any passengers, your licence plate number, the length of time you've been stranded, and inform them of any medical issues they should be aware of. Set a time to call again. To conserve your battery, do not make unnecessary calls.
Kids and cold
Check the forecast before ushering your children out the door. Don't let them out if extreme weather, such as a blizzard or ice storm, is called for.
Kids are more susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia, so don't let them stay outdoors long when the temperature (with or without windchill) reaches –15 C or colder. When it drops to –25 C, keep them indoors.
Make sure they're dressed in layers, with minimal exposed skin. Outerwear should include insulated winter boots, a winter coat and pants or a snowsuit, a hat, mittens, and a neck warmer instead of a scarf, which can get caught or tangled and choke a child.
On bright days, use sun protection. Reflections off snow and ice can increase the intensity of the sun's rays.
Give your kids plenty of warm fluids, such as cocoa, at regular intervals, since dehydration is a danger. To keep their internal central heating systems going, provide them with a nutritious meal before they head out, and give them some snacks, such as raisins and nuts, to take along.
Teach your kids to head for home or a warm shelter if their clothes get wet. Make sure they know it's OK to come indoors when they've had their fill of winter fun. Fatigue can lead to accidents and injuries.
Know where your kids are going and with whom, and tell them what time you expect them home.
Page 4 of 6 – Go to the next page to learn about weather alerts.
