Here are some guidelines for your use in particularly
heavy or prolonged spells of snow or freezing weather, depending on
your situation:
Employers
When you are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall
please consider:
- encouraging sharing of transport in to work
- letting your staff work from home
- releasing those staff who live a distance from work or
have care responsibilities
- staggering times when employees leave.
Parents or carers of schoolchildren
When you are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall
please consider:
- ensuring you have a note of the school telephone number
- listening to local radio for details of school closures
- notifying the school early of any change of arrangements for
the collection or attendance of your child.
At home
When you are informed snow is on the way please consider
finding:
- a battery-powered or wind-up radio
- a carbon monoxide detector - if using gas, oil or solid
fuel heating
- an emergency heating source
- a first aid kit
- a torch or torches with spare batteries and bulbs
- extra baby items and medicine
- a list of emergency numbers including those for your
GP, plumber, electricity, gas and water suppliers
- two to three days supply of non-perishable food and bottled
water.
When snow begins to fall please consider:
- checking on vulnerable neighbours
- dressing properly for the conditions by
wearing several layers of loose-fitting clothing to insulate
your body with loose woven cotton and woollen clothes
the best for heat retention. The head and neck lose heat
faster than any other part of the body so wear a hat, scarf or
turtleneck sweater to protect these areas.
- eating hot food and drinks
- maintaining at least one heated room and sleeping in it if
necessary and checking that external vents on heating flues are not
blocked
- staying active.
More advice is available on our
keeping warm pages.
Drivers
When you are informed snow is on the way please consider:
- preparing your vehicle for cold weather and checking its
anti-freeze, battery and tyre pressures
- putting a survival kit in your car which could include the
following:
- a bag of sand or cat litter for traction
- blankets or sleeping bags
- bottled water
- de-icer and ice scraper
- hat and gloves, warm socks
- high-calorie snacks or chocolate bars
- jump leads
- plastic bags or bottles for sanitation
- red or orange cloth or flag
- road maps
- rope
- small shovel
- snow chains
- torch with spare batteries.
If you are preparing for a journey or travelling by vehicle
and are informed snow is on the way or snow begins to fall please
consider:
- if the police or Highways Agency are requesting you not
to travel - don't!
- carrying a mobile phone for emergencies
- checking the weather forecast and road conditions before
leaving
- consider alternative routes to avoid bad driving
conditions
- giving way to and keeping your distance from snowploughs and
gritters
- keeping your fuel tank near full
- reducing your speed and allowing for greater stopping
distances.
If you do end up stuck or stranded miles from anywhere
please consider:
- staying with your vehicle
- tying a bright coloured cloth - red or orange - to your
radio aerial
- keeping your exhaust pipe clear of snow
- starting your vehicle for about 10 minutes every hour for
heat after checking the exhaust pipe is clear and opening the
window a crack to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
- turning on the interior light when running the engine at
night
- using a lifeline or rope tied to the car if you venture away
from your vehicle when it is snowing heavily or at night.
The main danger associated with cold weather is hypothermia
which occurs when the body loses more heat than it produces.
Symptoms may include mental confusion, uncontrollable shivering,
having a cool abdomen and a low core body temperature. However, as
the condition deteriorates shivering may stop.
Severe hypothermia may cause rigid muscles, dark and puffy skin,
irregular heartbeat and respiration and unconsciousness.
You should treat hypothermia by carrying out the following:
- protecting the victim from further heat loss and seeking
immediate medical attention
- getting them out of the cold
- adding insulation such as blankets, pillows, towels or
newspapers beneath and around the victim
- covering the victim's head and not their face
- replacing wet clothing with dry clothing
- warming the victim slowly and not heating them
rapidly
- handling the victim gently.
For more health advice contact
NHS Direct on 0845 46
47.
