Winter Weather Highlights - Borrowed From The CDC

• You may have to cope with power failures and icy roads.
• Many homes will be too cold.
• Space heaters and fireplaces increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Exposure to cold temperature can cause other serious health problems.
• When temperatures drop below normal, heat can leave your body more rapidly.

When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying
warm and safe can become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often
accompany a winter storm, so you may have to cope with power failures
and icy roads. Although
staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car
crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards. Many
homes will be too cold—either due to a power failure or because the
heating system isn't adequate for the weather. When people must use
space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm, the risk of household fires
increases, as well as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside,
can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. Infants and
the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyone can be affected. To
keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent
cold-related health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health
emergency arises.

The emergency procedures outlined here are not a substitute
for training in first aid. However, these procedures will help you to
know when to seek medical care and what to do until help becomes
available.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has an excellent article on their web page about preparing for winter weather. Use the following link to go to their page:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/about.asp#