Winter Safety Tips  |
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Mark E. Busche, Chief of Police
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Town
of Ossining Police Department Winter Safety Tips. Print these Winter Safety Tips in PDF format. Your Home | Decorations | Holidays | Fire Safety | Firearms | Party Smart
Party Food | Outdoors | Sledding | Driving | Storm Kit | Winter Driving Drinking & Driving | Caught in a Storm | Weather Radio | Be Prepared | Family Plan |
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In your home: Prepare early in the season for winter weather. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. You can't see or smell this deadly gas. If fuel-burning appliances aren't working properly, the CO emitted can reach dangerous levels. Many of the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to flu, including headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Clean your humidifier at the beginning of every heating season. Follow directions in your owner's manual. The evaporator pad should also be replaced before each heating season. If the water in your area is hard or has high mineral content, you may need to clean or service your humidifier more frequently. Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every three to four weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary or clean it if you have the reusable type. If you have a reusable filter, make sure it's completely dry before you re-install it. The prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two-or three times per year. Inspect your furnace's combustion area and vent system before each heating season. If you find dirt, soot or rust, your system may not operate properly or at its peak efficiency. Do not operate your furnace until it is professionally inspected and/or repaired.  back to topDecorations:
back to topHoliday Home Safety: Up the Chimney with Care: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" sounds like a good Yuletide activity. It could be a very dangerous practice. Every year scores of home fires are started from unscreened fireplaces, from something as small as a spark popping on the carpet. So--
back to topFire Safety: A SMOKE DETECTOR CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. Smoke is the number one killer in fires. Smoke detectors double your chances of surviving a fire in your home. Check your batteries in your smoke detector regularly. Baby-sitters are called numerous times over the holidays to care for children and aging parents. Show them what to do in case of a fire and make sure they have emergency numbers. Sixty-five percent of home fires start in the kitchen or in a room where people are cooking. If you don't have a fire extinguisher, you can put out a kitchen grease fire by covering the pan with a heavy lid or with baking soda. Never use water or flour to extinguish a grease fire. Electric heaters may be used to supplement your heating source during the holidays. Take special care.
back to topSafety with Firearms: Common experience demands that all firearms should be kept out of reach of children and immature or irresponsible adults. Unloaded rifles, shotguns, and handguns should at all times be in a rack, cabinet, closet, or drawer that is LOCKED. Likewise, cartridges and shells should be locked away and preferably out of sight. back to topParty Smart: Holiday parties and get togethers will be starting soon as well. Having a designated driver is a good way to ensure that everyone enjoys holiday events. Be especially attentive to other drivers, and don't assume that they've been as conscientious as you have. And always remember to buckle up for safety. back to topHoliday or Party Buffets: A popular way to celebrate holidays or any party occasion is to invite friends and family to a buffet. However, this type of food service where foods are left out for long periods leave the door open for uninvited guests --- bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Festive times for giving and sharing should not include sharing foodborne illness. Here are some tips from the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline to help you have a SAFE holiday party. Foodborne Bacteria: Bacteria are everywhere but a few types especially like to crash parties. Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes frequent people's hands and steam tables. And unlike microorganisms that cause food to spoil, harmful or pathogenic bacteria cannot be smelled or tasted. Prevention is safe food handling. If illness occurs, however, contact a health professional and describe the symptoms. Staphylococcus aureus: Staphylococcus ("staph") bacteria are found on our skin, in infected cuts and pimples, and in our noses and throats. They are spread by improper food handling. Prevention includes washing hands and utensils before preparing and handling foods and not letting prepared foods --- particularly cooked and cured meats and cheese and meat salads --- sit at room temperature more than two hours. Thorough cooking destroys "staph" bacteria but staphylococcal enterotoxin is resistant to heat, refrigeration and freezing. Clostridium perfringens: "Perfringens" is called the "cafeteria germ" because it may be found in foods served in quantity and left for long periods of time on inadequately maintained steam tables or at room temperature. Prevention is to divide large portions of cooked foods such as beef, turkey, gravy, dressing, stews and casseroles into smaller portions for serving and cooling. Keep cooked foods hot or cold, not lukewarm. Listeria Monocytogenes: Because Listeria bacteria multiply, albeit slowly, at refrigeration temperatures, these bacteria can be found in cold foods typically served on buffets. To avoid serving foods containing Listeria, follow "keep refrigerated" label directions and carefully observe "sell by" and "use by" dates on processed products, and thoroughly reheat frozen or refrigerated processed meat and poultry products before consumption. Safe Food Handling: Always wash your hands before and after handling food. Keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean also. Always serve food on clean plates --- not those previously holding raw meat and poultry. Otherwise, bacteria which may have been present in raw meat juices can cross contaminate the food to be served. Cook Thoroughly: If you are cooking foods ahead of time for your party, be sure to cook foods thoroughly to safe temperatures. Cook fresh roast beef to at least 145o F for medium rare and 160o F for medium doneness. Bake whole poultry to 180o F, poultry breasts to 170o F. Ground turkey and poultry should be cooked to 165o F All other meat, fish and ground red meats should be cooked to 160o F. Use Small, Shallow Containers: Divide cooked foods into small shallow containers to store in the refrigerator or freezer until serving. This encourages rapid, even cooling. Reheat hot foods to 165o F. Arrange and serve food on several small platters rather than on one large platter. Keep the rest of the food hot in the oven (set at 200o - 250o F) or cold in the refrigerator until serving time. This way foods will be held at a safe temperature for a longer period of time. REPLACE empty platters rather than adding fresh food to a dish that already had food in it. Many people's hands may have been taking food from the dish, which has also been sitting out at room temperature for a while. The Two Hour Rule: Foods should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep track of how long foods have been sitting on the buffet table and discard anything there two hours or more. Keep Hot Foods HOT and Cold Foods COLD: Hot foods should be held at 140o F or warmer. On the buffet table you can keep hot foods hot with chafing dishes, crock pots and warming trays. Cold foods should be held at 40o F or colder. Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice. Otherwise, use small serving trays and replace them often. Handling Leftovers: When the party's over, discard any foods that sat for two hours or more on the buffet table. Other leftovers can be refrigerated frozen in shallow containers. Leftovers are safe in the refrigerator for four days. In the freezer they are safe indefinitely, but most will have best quality if used within two to four months. Thoroughly reheat leftovers to 165o F. back to topHoliday Is Time To Keep Yourself Safe: With the euphoria created be the holidays, it is always important to remember that not everyone shares the holiday spirit. Cars loaded with gifts and left in parking lots can become easy targets for thieves, so remember to lock your vehicle, even when you expect to be in and out of a store quickly. Keep packages in your trunk and out of sight. Park your car in a well lit, heavily traveled area, and never leave the keys in your vehicle. If you choose to valet park be sure that the contents of your vehicle are secure and not assessable. For extra security, consider investing in a theft deterrent system for your car. Steering wheel immobilization devices can be purchased for a small price and often may be just enough to discourage a would-be thief. More sophisticated systems can sound an alarm and even disable the vehicle if it is stolen. Even if you don't feel your car is a likely target, don't tempt someone to steal it for its contents.
Strain in the cold and hard labor can cause a heat attack. Sweating can lead to a chill and hypothermia. Avoid shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow. If you do shovel, be sure to take frequent breaks indoors. Frostbite During extreme wind-chill - exposed flesh can freeze within a few minutes, causing pain, numbness, and discoloration - soak the body part in warm, not hot water, call your doctor immediately.
back to topSledding Safety: Keep these tips in mind whenever you plan to sled:
back to topSuggestions for Driving in Winter Storm Areas:
back to topWinter Storm Kit:
back to topDriving in Winter Storms: KEEP CALM IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE If your car breaks down, stalls, or you get lost, whatever you do, DO NOT PANIC. Think the problem through, decide the safest and best thing to do, and then do it slowly and carefully. If you are on a well-traveled road, indicate you are in trouble by: (1) turning on your emergency flasher lights, or (2) raise the hood of your car, or (3) hang a cloth from the radio aerial or car window. Then stay in your car and wait for help to come. Use the blanket in your "WINTER STORM KIT" to keep you warm. If you must turn your engine on to keep warm, remember to open a window enough to provide ventilation to protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning. WHEREVER you are, if there is no house or other source of help in sight, DO NOT leave your car to search for help: you may become confused and/or lost. Good Driving Tips for Bad Weather Days Bad weather is one of life's little realities. Driving in it is one of life's big frustrations. These tips will help ease your way through ice, snow, sleet, rain or fog. No matter what type of driving conditions exist, the key to avoiding skids, loss of control and accidents is to reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Avoiding Skids: Skidding is caused by hard acceleration or braking, speed too fast for conditions, and quick jerky movements of the steering wheel. The most important thing to remember when you feel yourself entering a skid, is look, and steer where you want to go. Shifting to neutral then slowing down gradually, rather than slamming on your brakes, is the second most important. Gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting (for example, at a red light) is the best method for retaining traction and avoiding skids. If your wheels start to spin, let up on the accelerator until traction returns. Loss of Control:
Visibility:
back to topDon't Drink and Drive! Holidays and Highways Can Be Deadly Combination As the holidays approach each year, public service announcements, billboards and other media resound with warnings of drinking and driving. Sadly, some motorists still choose to risk their lives and the lives of others by driving while intoxicated. Nationally, alcohol is a factor in about 40% of the 40,000 fatalities that occur each year. With a Blood Alcohol Content of just .05, motorists have the feeling of relaxation, sedation or euphoria and experience increased difficulty in performing motor skills. Most importantly, driving ability and judgment are impaired. In New York, a blood alcohol content of .10 means you are legally intoxicated. If hosting a holiday party that will include alcohol, consider the following tips to help ensure the safety of your driving guests, as well as motorists who may encounter them on the highways.
back to topWhen Caught in a Winter Storm: OUTSIDE: Find shelter: try to stay dry; cover all exposed parts of the body. No shelter: prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection from the wind; build a fire for heat and to attract attention; place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat. Do not eat snow: It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first. IN A CAR OR TRUCK: Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold. Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat: open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning; make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked. Make yourself visible to rescuers: turn on the dome light at night when running engine; tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door; raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling. Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm. AT HOME OR IN A BUILDING Stay inside. When using ALTERNATIVE HEAT from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.: use fire safeguards; properly ventilate. No heat: close off unneeded rooms; stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors; cover windows at night. Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill. back to topNOAA Weather Radio: KEEP AHEAD OF THE STORM by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, and television for the latest winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories. What to Listen For... WINTER STORM WATCH: Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice, are possible within the next day or two. Prepare now! WINTER STORM WARNING: Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in your area. Stay indoors! BLIZZARD WARNING: Snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill. Seek refuge immediately! WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life- threatening. The greatest hazard is often to motorists. FROST/FREEZE WARNING: Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause significant damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures, people who have homes without heat need to take added precautions. back to topBe Prepared - Before the Storm Strikes: At home and at work: Primary concerns are the potential loss of heat, power, telephone service, and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day.
back to topFamily Disaster Plan: Families should be prepared for all hazards that affect their area and themselves. NOAA's National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross urge each family to develop a family disaster plan. Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere at work, at school, or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disasters may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services - water, gas, electricity or telephones - were cut off? Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan: Gather information about hazards. Contact your local National Weather Service office, emergency management office or civil defense office, and American Red Cross chapter. Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Meet with your family to create a plan. Discuss the information you have gathered. Pick two places to meet: a spot right outside your home for an emergency, such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your "family check-in contact" for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.
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