Top Advice For Cold Weather Snap

North Somerset Council has put together some guidelines for use in particularly heavy or prolonged spells of snow or freezing weather.

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   snow by McBLG97's courtesy of Flickr

 

Advice includes what you can do as an employer, tips for drivers and advice on health problems caused by cold conditions.

Employers

When you are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall please consider: 

• encouraging sharing of transport in to work
• letting your staff work from home
• releasing those staff who live a distance from work or have care responsibilities
• staggering times when employees leave.

Parents or carers of schoolchildren

When you are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall please consider: 

• ensuring you have a note of the school telephone number
• listening to local radio for details of school closures
• notifying the school early of any change of arrangements for the collection or attendance of your child.

At home

When you are informed snow is on the way please consider finding: 

• a battery-powered or wind-up radio
• a carbon monoxide detector - if using gas, oil or solid fuel heating
• an emergency heating source
• a first aid kit
• a torch or torches with spare batteries and bulbs
• extra baby items and medicine
• a list of emergency numbers including those for your GP, plumber, electricity, gas and water suppliers
• two to three days supply of non-perishable food and bottled water.

When snow begins to fall please consider:

• checking on vulnerable neighbours
• dressing properly for the conditions by wearing several layers of loose-fitting clothing to insulate your body with loose woven cotton and woollen clothes the best for heat retention. The head and neck lose heat faster than any other part of the body so wear a hat, scarf or turtleneck sweater to protect these areas.
• eating hot food and drinks
• maintaining at least one heated room and sleeping in it if necessary and checking that external vents on heating flues are not blocked
• staying active. 

Drivers

When you are informed snow is on the way please consider: 

• preparing your vehicle for cold weather and checking its anti-freeze, battery and tyre pressures 
• putting a survival kit in your car which could include the following:

  • a bag of sand or cat litter for traction
  • blankets or sleeping bags
  • bottled water
  • de-icer and ice scraper
  • hat and gloves, warm socks
  • high-calorie snacks or chocolate bars 
  • jump leads
  • plastic bags or bottles for sanitation
  • red or orange cloth or flag
  • road maps
  • rope
  • small shovel
  • snow chains
  • torch with spare batteries.

If you are preparing for a journey or travelling by vehicle and are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall please consider: 

• if the police or Highways Agency are requesting you not to travel - don't!
• carrying a mobile phone for emergencies
• checking the weather forecast and road conditions before leaving
• consider alternative routes to avoid bad driving conditions
• giving way to and keeping your distance from snowploughs and gritters
• keeping your fuel tank near full
• reducing your speed and allowing for greater stopping distances.

If you do end up stuck or stranded miles from anywhere please consider:

• staying with your vehicle
• tying a bright coloured cloth - red or orange - to your radio aerial
• keeping your exhaust pipe clear of snow
• starting your vehicle for about 10 minutes every hour for heat after checking the exhaust pipe is clear and opening the window a crack to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
• turning on the interior light when running the engine at night
• using a lifeline or rope tied to the car if you venture away from your vehicle when it is snowing heavily or at night.

The main danger associated with cold weather is hypothermia which occurs when the body loses more heat than it produces.

Symptoms may include mental confusion, uncontrollable shivering, having a cool abdomen and a low core body temperature. However, as the condition deteriorates shivering may stop.

Severe hypothermia may cause rigid muscles, dark and puffy skin, irregular heartbeat and respiration and unconsciousness.

You should treat hypothermia by carrying out the following:

• protecting the victim from further heat loss and seeking immediate medical attention
• getting them out of the cold
• adding insulation such as blankets, pillows, towels or newspapers beneath and around the victim
• covering the victim's head and not their face
• replacing wet clothing with dry clothing
• warming the victim slowly and not heating them rapidly
• handling the victim gently.

For more health advice contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47