How to Stay Safe During Winter Weather

Winter Weather

We may be nearing the beginning of March, but if you live in Maine you know that winter is far from behind us. With all of the blizzards, flurries, and snow drifts come safety hazards out and about, on the road, or even just at home. We’ve come up with our top 5 winter safety tips to help you and your family stay safe during winter weather.

1. Shovel early, shovel often.

   One of the easiest hazards you can avoid during a snow storm is the heavy accumulation around your doors and driveway. If you wait until the end of the storm to shovel, chances are the snow will be much heavier, and maybe even frozen. By shoveling early on, and continuing to keep up with it, you’re much less likely to hurt yourself when you’re cleaning it up.
   ** Don’t forget to shovel a path to your fill pipe(s) for your fuel delivery!

2. Only drive if you have to.

   Even your cousin’s big ole’ extended cab with a 14” lift kit and tires the size of a tractor could suffer from the loss of traction on the roads during a snow storm. Try to limit your travel time when it’s snowing, no matter how much of a dare devil you are. Remember, better safe than sorry.

3. Dress appropriately.

   This one seems like a no-brainer, but we all know that one guy who walks around all winter long in his gym shorts. You should be dressing in warm clothing that covers as much skin as possible, especially if it’s windy outside in the winter! Check out this windchill chart provided by the National Weather Service to see just how quickly frostbite can set in.

4. Prepare your home and vehicle(s).

   This tip goes hand-in-hand with the last two. If you hear there’s going to be a storm, prepare for it by getting gas in your vehicle and generator, buying groceries that don’t require refrigeration, and making sure you and your family have hats, gloves, boots, and jackets appropriate for the weather. Don’t forget alternative light sources that don’t use electricity, and
   ** Pro tip: buy a bag of salt or sand and keep it in the trunk of your car, just in case you do have to be out and about and get stuck.

5. Report damage and outages.

   We’ve all been there. The power flickers once, twice, three times, and it’s out… You might think the electric company already knows about the outage, but it never hurts to call and make sure! Same thing goes with damage done by the weather. Calling and reporting downed power lines, trees in the road, or cars off the road helps law enforcement and other organizations keep others safe by alerting the public.

There you have it, our top 5 winter weather safety tips. Share it with your family and friends by using the buttons below! If you haven’t already, check out our Top 3 Home Heating Investments for 2019.

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