Baby it’s cold outside

11Dec06

Going to Alaska this summer has made me better appreciate the beauty of winter. I loved watching the leaves on the trees change colour and fall, and I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited as I have this year, seeing the first snow. It also hasn’t escaped me this is one of the first times in years that I haven’t had the winter blues. But it sure is cold out there, and reading the news, I’ve been saddened to see so many victims of the weather and so early in the season… Today I was especially saddened to learn of James Kim’s death. Such an unexpected and unfortunately, preventable, tragedy. Next time I go on a winter road trip, even if it’s just a few hours’ drive in a rural area, I’ll make sure our car is prepared.

This is from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Prepare Your Car for Winter

You can avoid many dangerous winter travel problems by planning ahead. Have maintenance service on your vehicle as often as the manufacturer recommends. In addition, every fall:

• - Have the radiator system serviced, or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze, as needed.
• - Replace windshield-wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
• - Replace any worn tires, and check the air pressure in the tires.

During winter, keep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.

Winter Survival Kit for Your Car

Equip your car with these items:

• - blankets
• - first aid kit
• - a can and waterproof matches (to melt snow for water)
• - windshield scraper
• - booster cables
• - road maps
• - mobile phone
• - compass
• - tool kit
• - paper towels
• - bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on ice or snow for added traction)
• - tow rope
• - tire chains (in areas with heavy snow)
• - collapsible shovel
• - container of water and high-calorie canned or dried foods and a can opener
• - flashlight and extra batteries
• - canned compressed air with sealant (for emergency tire repair)
• - brightly colored cloth

Another point I’d like to make is on dressing warmly throughout winter. My university has a bad rep for having overly fashion-conscious students. By this I mean that all year long – that means all winter long too – you will see girls in mini-skirts. Also, I’m a knitter, so I think people should totally wear sweaters and hats regardless of how bad they think they’ll look.

• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dress in warm layers so you can remove items if you get too warm.

For more on surviving winter chills, the American Red Cross has an excellent and brief article: Red Cross Says Preparing Means Surviving Winter Chills.

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