Surviving a Winter Storm

A great deal of the threat of winter storms is their ability to leave you stranded, either in your home or in your car. The storm then holds you captive with its freezing temperatures, low visibility and harsh walking conditions. Recent statistics show the majority of deaths take place when persons are trapped in the cars. As many as 70% of all winter weather deaths are associated with automobiles. 25% of the deaths occur when people are trapped inside their own homes. In many cases the storm has knocked out utilities to the home and temperatures dropped to lethal levels.

Deaths associated with exposure to cold weather effect primarily men over the age of 60. An amazing 75% of people who freeze to death are male and 50% of those are over 60 years of age. 20% of the deaths take place int he home. One theory as to why more men freeze to death is chivalry. Men try to go to work, try to walk for help when the family is stranded, or ventures out to get food or other provisions.

Key to survival is to remain indoors and to remain dry. Cover all exposed areas of your body, especially your extremities. When your body gets cold the arteries restrict in your extremities and keep the majority of the blood close to the organs. The combination of extreme cold and limited blood supply raises the risk for frostbite.

If you are trapped outdoors and cannot reach shelter, quickly construct a wind break, This can be in the form of an snow shelter or a lean-to. Gather wood and start a fire. Put large stones around the fire pit. The stones will collect and hold the heat and will also radiate the heat out. Do not eat the snow, regardless of its color. Melt the snow first to create drinking water. Eating the snow will lower your body temperature, increasing the risk of hypothermia.

If you are trapped in your vehicle, do not let the engine run. Keep the engine turned off, running on only about ten minutes per hour to briefly raise the temperature in the car. Make certain the snow/ice have not clocked the tail pipe. It is also a good idea to very slightly roll down a window to allow in fresh air. While the warm air will be beneficial the carbon monoxide which might come with it is not. Place a rag, towel, or piece of clothing in the window or tied to the side mirror. If possible, have the material be red in color. This will help signal rescuers of your location and let them know someone is in fact in the car.

You should keep your gas tank at least half full at all times during the winter and keep your cell phone charger in your car. If you can afford it, purchase one of those crank powered radios that need no batteries. Some of these units also have televisions, as well as two way radios. Almost all of them have the ability to charge your cell phone and have an emergency light as well.