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 “In Illinois, it’s not a question of if, but rather
when will snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures occur,” said IEMA
Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Being unprepared for winter weather is
not only inconvenient, but it can be dangerous. That’s why we are
encouraging all Illinoisans to take a few minutes to put together
your home and vehicle emergency supply kits and review the steps you
should take to stay safe during hazardous winter weather.”
When checking and restocking a vehicle’s emergency supply kit, make
sure it contains items such as:
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Blankets or sleeping bags
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Flashlight with extra batteries
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First aid kit
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Non-perishable snack food
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Water
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Sand or cat litter
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Shovel
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Booster cables
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Cell phone charger
“At the Illinois Department of Transportation, we
spend the entire year planning and preparing to keep you safe during
our challenging Illinois winters,” said Illinois Transportation
Secretary Omer Osman. “The public plays an important part as well.
Make sure your vehicle is in safe, working condition at all times.
Pack an emergency kit to store in your vehicle. Don’t crowd the plow
when you’re driving. Most important, during inclement weather, ask
yourself if your trip is really necessary or can be postponed.”
Winter Weather Health Hazards
Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause serious problems including
hypothermia, a drop in the body’s core temperature. It doesn’t
require negative temperatures and can set in when you’re outdoors or
in. Hypothermia is especially dangerous and can be deadly if not
detected promptly and treated properly.
Frostbite occurs when your extremities (fingers, toes, nose, and
ears) are exposed to cold weather. The skin may become stiff and
numb, leading to severe tissue damage. Frostbite can permanently
damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.
“Workers in Illinois, including first responders, construction
workers and public works crews brave the elements year-round. It’s
critical these workers – and others – prepare for severe conditions.
While it starts with dressing properly for the weather, it’s also
important your body is prepared for additional stress,” said
Illinois Department of Labor Director Michael Kleinik.
Medical professionals encourage people who must work outside
regularly in the winter weather consider scheduling a physical exam
before that winter work begins.
A study by the University of Illinois Chicago published in 2020
shows while there were more heat-related hospital admissions between
2011 and 2018, there were 1,935 cold-related deaths compared to 70
heat-related deaths.
Recognize Home Heating Dangers
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s)
National Center for Health Statistics, in 2017, 399 people died of
unintentional non-fire carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In 2016,
local fire departments in the U.S. responded to 79,600 carbon
monoxide incidents, or an average of nine such calls per hour.
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In 2018 according to National Fire Incident Reporting
System (NFIRS), Illinois Fire Departments responded to 8,965
incidents related to carbon monoxide. CO is found in fumes produced
any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves,
lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build
up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. During and
after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and
fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
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Keep anything that can burn at least three feet
from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves,
radiators, space heaters and candles.
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Create a kid-free zone around open fires and
space heaters
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Never use an oven to heat your home
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Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or
going to bed. Remember...space heaters need space!
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Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to
stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool
before being placed into a metal container. Keep the container a
safe distance away from your home.
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Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on
each floor of your home and within 15 feet of each sleeping
area.
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CO detectors have a limited life span, check the
manufacturer’s instructions for information on replacement.
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Use portable generators outdoors in
well-ventilated areas away from doors, windows and vents.
“Home fires occur more during the winter months than
any other time of the year. Heating equipment is a leading cause of
home fire deaths in the U.S. which is why we stress the importance
of maintaining heating equipment and having chimneys cleaned and
inspected by a professional each year.” said Illinois State Fire
Marshal Matt Perez. “It’s also important to make sure your smoke and
CO alarms are working properly and are not expired. Test those
alarms monthly and replace any broken or expired alarm.”
Keep in mind, being prepared for winter doesn’t have to cost a lot
of money or take a lot of time. It could be as simple as making sure
your vehicle is in good winter driving condition, adding a winter
survival kit to your car, changing your furnace filter at home and
stocking or updating your family’s emergency supply kit. Take time
now to prepare your family, home, vehicles and driving habits for
everything from a dusting of snow to a major winter storm.
For more information about winter weather preparedness, visit the
Ready Illinois website at
www.Ready.Illinois.gov.
IEMA Winter Storm Preparedness Guide - printable pdf
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
