The Quad City region is no stranger to winter weather, especially after the historic cold temperatures during December 2022. While residents of the Quad Cities are familiar with winter and how to handle the inclement weather and the potential hazards that come with it, it’s not a bad idea to remember a few different steps you can take to stay safe this winter. Here, the Quad Cities personal injury attorneys at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham Law offer these winter weather safety tips.
Winter Weather Safety Tips For Home
Ensuring your home is ready for freezing temperatures can save you a lot of time and money. Many people think that running the heat is enough to keep your home warm and prevent cold weather disasters like frozen and exploding pipes. However, you can do a few additional things to help prepare your home for winter.
- Cover any drafts in doors and windows with insulation or weather-stripping; this will prevent cold air from entering your home.
- Schedule an inspection of your home’s HVAC system: a malfunctioning HVAC system can cause house fires or burn injuries. If you use a fireplace in the winter, have your chimney inspected by a professional before starting a fire.
- Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning: the odorless and colorless gas can lead to severe illness or death in minutes if inhaled. Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are most likely to occur in January and December. If your home has gas heat, this is one of the most important winter weather safety tips on this list. To avoid carbon monoxide-related illness or death, be sure to install carbon monoxide detectors in every room of your home.
- Turn the water faucets on a slow drip: water pipes are most likely to freeze when the temperature drops below freezing for extended periods. Leaving taps on a slow drip will prevent the water pipes in your home from freezing and bursting. This also applies to outdoor faucets.
Get Your Car Winter Weather Ready
Staying safe in the winter doesn’t stop at home. The best way to stay safe on the road is to avoid non-essential travel. If you must hit the road, preparing your car for winter weather is one of the best ways to stay safe. Before getting behind the wheel, do a quick inspection of your vehicle or consult a professional mechanic.
- Tire pressure: reduced tire pressure is a common occurrence as temperatures drop. If your tire pressure drops below the safe range, your car may be more difficult to control, increasing your chance of a car accident.
- Fluid levels: this includes oil, antifreeze, brake, and wiper fluids.
- Tire tread: low tire tread makes your tires ineffective due to limited traction, which is especially dangerous when ice and snow are on the ground.
- Wipers: if your windshield wipers are old and worn, they can create streaks on the glass and obscure your view in the rain or snow.
- Battery: cold weather drains car batteries. Before it gets too cold, check your car battery to ensure it is in good condition.
In addition to inspecting the items above, keeping a winter emergency kit in your car is essential. If your vehicle breaks down or you are in an accident, having an emergency kit on hand can be helpful while you wait for assistance, which might take several hours during severe winter weather. Keep items like blankets, a flashlight, ice/snow melting spray, extra phone chargers, and snow removal tools in your car during the winter months.
Stock Up on Home Winter Supplies
Along with your car emergency kit, there are a few items you need to keep on hand at home in case of an emergency, such as a power outage or inclement weather, that can leave you stranded for days. Here’s what you need to stock up on before a winter storm that can help you and your family in an emergency:
- Extra winter clothing items
- Bottled water and non-perishable food
- First aid kit
- Batteries
- Weather radio
- Extra prescription medications
- Diapers, formula, and other baby items
- Generators
- Snow shovel
- Salt, cat litter, or sand to sprinkle on icy walkways
Winter Weather Safety Tips For Outdoor Activities
Activities like sledding, ice skating, and snowboarding are common during winter in the Quad Cities. Also, it is likely you will have to shovel snow or remove it from your car, exposing you to the elements. Outdoor winter activities can quickly become hazardous or even deadly. Here are a few things you can do to help mitigate possible injuries:
- Dress appropriately: wear multiple layers of warm clothing, a coat, gloves, a hat, a scarf, and waterproof boots.
- Tell someone where you’re going: if you are going outside for any reason, make sure someone you live with or a trusted friend or family member knows where you are at all times.
- Don’t forget your phone: before heading outside, take your phone and ensure it is charged.
- Remove ice and snow from walkways around your home: shovel snow and ice away from walkways to help prevent a slip-and-fall accident.
Contact a Winter Injuries Lawyer
Following the winter weather safety tips above can help keep you and your family safe. However, accidents still happen no matter how many precautions you take. If you or a loved one are injured this winter due to the negligence of another party, our team of Quad Cities personal injury attorneys can help. In the past, we’ve helped clients who have suffered from car accidents, truck accidents, and more.
With over 120 years of combined legal experience, we serve clients in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Whiteside, and Knox counties in Illinois or Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, and Jackson counties in Iowa. When you hire one of our attorneys, you can be sure they will fight for you. Get started right now by scheduling a free case consultation. Reach us 24/7 by phone at (309) 794-1515, via LiveChat, or by filling out our contact form.