8 Safety Tips for Arctic Blasts

1. Prepare an Emergency Medicine Bag

Think of the family members in your household and which medications they need. Make sure you have them stocked and on hand in case of an emergency. This could include drugs to treat chronic conditions, such as asthma, high blood pressure, or diabetes, Dr. Waters says. Aim to have enough medication to last for about three days in case you’re snowed in and can’t get to the pharmacy for a refill.

It’s also wise to replenish your emergency kit with over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and Benadryl. Make sure your first-aid kit is fully stocked with Band-Aids, a flashlight, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antibiotic ointments for cuts and wounds, a survival knife, matches, candles, extra cash, chargers, high-calorie snacks, and blankets, says Nandita Ganne, DO, a family medicine physician at Allina Health in Hastings, Minnesota.

2. Stock Up on Food and Water

Don’t rely on GrubHub to drop off your favorite lunch during bad weather. Plan ahead and go to the grocery store the day before an anticipated storm to pick up bottled water, nonperishable items, and pantry staples like bread, crackers, peanut butter, trail mix, and cereals.

If you lose gas or electricity and don’t have access to your stove or microwave, you’ll know you can still whip up meals with beans, tuna, and canned vegetables. (Chocolate counts as an emergency staple, too!)

Pick up enough food and bottled water to last for at least four days, accounting for each family member in your home, including relatives who may be riding out the storm with you, says Tracy Fox, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.

Don’t forget pet food!

3. Stay Up-to-Date on Winter Storm Warnings

Pay attention to severe weather advisory alerts on your phone, per the National Weather Service, and stay tuned to your local news so you’re aware of additional winter storm or blizzard updates. Use this information to plan your day and decide whether it’s safe to travel. While you may have an easy time getting to work, the commute back may be trickier as weather conditions worsen.

Fox suggests listening for key phrases, such as “winter storm advisory,” “winter storm watch,” and “winter storm warning.” As with any type of weather alert, an advisory means you should be aware of hazardous weather to come, while a watch means you should take the steps to be prepared for hazardous weather. A warning means the threat is imminent and immediate action is needed.

The Red Cross has an emergency app you can download for free on Google Play if you’re an Android user or on the App Store if you have an iPhone. Once you set your region, it’ll send you real-time alerts about snowstorms, tornados, flooding, and other extreme weather events. You can also use the app to check on loved ones and notify them that you’re safe. Check local government websites for updates, too. Get together with your household to talk through your blizzard safety plan so everyone’s aware of where to meet if family members get separated, and make sure everyone has a copy of emergency contacts.

4. Watch for Potential Signs of Frostbite

Staying warm indoors is your best bet to ride out a blizzard, but if you must go outside, dress properly, even if it’s just to clear the driveway. Waters recommends a trio of layers: the first to absorb sweat (such as cotton), the second to act as insulation (such as wool), and the last to seal out cold temperatures (nylon or polyester). Ideally, the last layer is waterproof and windproof. This strategy traps warmth between the layers, gives you the option to remove a layer in case of overheating, and protects your body from dampness, either from the weather or from sweat.

Bundle up with a hat, a scarf, gloves, and thick socks and boots to protect your ears, nose, fingers, and toes — it’s these parts of the body that are most vulnerable to frostbite, along with your cheeks and chin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Waters says your extremities may turn pale, blue, purplish, or discolored, which is a sign that frostbite is setting in, the Mayo Clinic also notes. Dr. Ganne points to other warning signs, such as pain, numbness, or a tingling in your hands and fingers, skin that looks hard or waxy, or clumsiness because yours joints and muscles are stiff. In severe cases, your skin may start blistering after you’re back in a warm environment, she says, and Cleveland Clinic concurs.

If these symptoms start cropping up, get inside immediately or seek emergency medical attention. You can also try to warm the affected areas with lukewarm (not hot) water, although the National Health Service (NHS) recommends that ideally rewarming should be done under medical supervision.

5. Look Out for Symptoms of Hypothermia

If the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees F, hypothermia could set in. It means your body is losing heat faster than it can produce it, causing a “dangerously low” body temperature, Ganne says.

When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system, and other organs can’t work properly, she warns. The condition is marked by symptoms like shivering, slurred speech, slow, shallow breathing, a weak pulse, and drowsiness, confusion, or memory loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Keep in mind that children and the elderly are most susceptible to hypothermia. If symptoms start to appear, it’s time to seek medical attention. Move the person out of the cold, remove wet clothing, and keep them warm and insulated while monitoring their breathing, Ganne says.

6. Get Your Car Ready for Winter Weather Emergencies

Each year, get your car ready for the season with the appropriate winter tires, and make sure a mechanic checks out your battery, ignition system, flashing hazard lights, windshield wipers, heater, and brakes.

Waters says he often sees patients who were running errands near home only to get stuck on a highway shoulder for hours because of a broken-down vehicle in snowy weather. He recommends keeping extra sweaters, a warm jacket, a hat, gloves and a blanket in your trunk in case you’re stranded waiting for emergency roadside assistance.

Stash sand or kitty litter in the trunk, too. You can use it to generate traction under the wheels or to make walkways or steps less slippery.

7. Prepare for a Power Outage

Winter storms can wreak havoc on power lines, so it’s wise to prepare your home in case you lose power during a blizzard. Make sure you have flashlights, batteries, candles, a portable phone charger, and plenty of blankets and warm clothes on hand for the entire family. If you’re using a generator, make sure it’s outside the home, and keep inside heaters on flat surfaces away from blankets and carpets, Fox says.

She advises all households to locate the nearest warming shelter in their neighborhood ahead of the storm. “If it gets to a point where it’s too cold in your home, you’ll know exactly where to go and you won’t be scrambling,” Fox says.

8. Clear Snow Carefully

Eventually, of course, you’ll have to come out of hibernation. Once the storm breaks, layer up properly before you start shoveling or blowing snow. If you’re shoveling, remember it’s a strenuous and potentially hazardous activity, and take care of your back. According to one report, there are about 11,500 snow shoveling–related injuries treated annually in the United States. Avoid shoveling if it causes back pain, chest pain, or shortness of breath, Ganne says. If a snow blower is your preferred tool, make sure to power it up only outdoors, wear hearing protection, and keep kids and loose clothing out of range, as Consumer Reports notes.

Remember to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, and bend at the knees if you’re doing heavy lifting.

Additional reporting by Susan E. Matthews.