1 Stay warm
2Stay inside
EXTREME COLD
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SURVIVING EXTREME COLD
1 Stay warm
• Keep the heating on day and night at a low setting so that your home
does not become cold and water pipes do not freeze. Alternatively, use low-wattage electric heaters.
• If you are worried about costly fuel bills, heat only the rooms that you
need to use, and close the doors to unheated rooms.
• Close the curtains to keep the heat in, but air rooms daily so that they
do not become stuffy.
2Stay inside
• When outside conditions are icy, do not venture outside unless need
be. If you must go out, see the box on the right for sensible advice.
• Do not drive unless absolutely necessary. If you will be driving on
rural or hilly terrain, go prepared to be caught in a snowdrift or blizzard( see below).
• Check that you have a cold-weather kit( see box right) in your car in
case of emergency.
• Always take a cellular phone, whether you are on foot or in a car.
• If you live in an avalanche area and an avalanche warning is issued,
stay inside unless told to evacuate.
! If your car gets stuck in snow
• Drive very slowly backward and forward, moving only slightly each time, allowing
your car to gradually make a track for itself.
• If this does not work, use a shovel to clear away snow from around the wheels, then
put down gravel or canvas to give the tires something to grip. Drive forward very slowly. Once the car is clear of the snow, drive until you have reached safety.
IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUT
• Dress warmly in layers of light clothing, a jacket or coat, hat, scarf, and gloves.
• Wear sturdy boots with deep treads. Be careful to take
small, firm steps; point your toes inward on downhill slopes and bend your knees slightly if the going is steep.
• Be careful on icy surfaces; try to find
something, such as a railing, to hold onto.
• Be particularly careful if you are elderly: brittle
bones fracture easily.
Cover your hands and head
Preventing heat loss A hat is the most important item of clothing, because most body heat is lost through the head
• Shovel
• Blankets and coats
• Gravel or canvas
ESSENTIALS
COLD-WEATHER CAR KIT
• Flashlight, batteries
• High-energy food
• Water
• If you are unable to move the car, do not try to walk to safety: stay inside the vehicle.
• Wrap yourself in blankets or newspaper.
• Turn on the engine and run the heater for 10 minutes every hour to conserve gasoline.
• Open a window occasionally to let in air.
• Try to stay awake; the risk of hypothermia( p. 54) is greater if you fall asleep.