First day of winter brings ice, safety tips

Published Dec. 21, 2012

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Winter is here officially and as the first snow and ice of the season accumulated at Grissom, it brought with it the need for increased safety and caution.

Astronomical winter is determined by the winter solstice, which is when the Earth is tilted farthest away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the winter solstice occurred at 6:12 a.m. EST this morning.

For many, winter begins in December, when the autumn weather in Indiana starts to turn blustery and cold. Meteorologists use this reasoning as well, as they use whole months to identify meteorological seasons.

In the Northern Hemisphere, meteorologists identify the three coldest months of December, January and February as meteorological winter.

No matter what your view on the start of winter, as the cold rolls in with ice, sleet and snow, the National Safety Council has a few reminders for how to stay safe this season.

Winter preparation:

Change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors once a year.
Clean chimneys and fireplaces.
Check furnaces and heating systems by having them inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season.
Prepare for a winter emergency with a winter survival kit.
Be ready for ice, snow and cold temperatures with shovels and de-icer.
Check fire extinguishers and charge or replace them if necessary.
Get a flu shot.

Snow shoveling safety:

If there is a history of heart problems or inactivity, talk to a doctor.
Warm up and stretch before starting.
Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
Shovel only fresh snow. Freshly fallen, powdery snow is easier to shovel than the wet, packed-down variety.
Push, don't lift. It's easier on your back and uses less energy than lifting.
Pick the right shovel, and don't pick up too much at once.
Use a small shovel, or fill only one-fourth or one-half of a large one.
Lift with the legs bent, not with the back. Keep the back straight.
Dress the part. Dress in layers; if working up a sweat, remove some of those layers.
If the body is saying stop, listen to it. Stop if pain is felt or if there are heart attack warning signs including chest pain; shoulder, neck or arm pain; dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea; and shortness of breath.

Vehicle safety:

Have vehicles serviced regularly.
Check the concentration level of the antifreeze.
Add a stronger windshield cleaning/de-icer fluid solution to keep the spray from freezing.
Check tire air pressure and replace any worn tires.
Keep the fuel tank full or near full to avoid being caught on the road in long lines of slow moving traffic.
Always carry an emergency kit, which includes a working flashlight, extra batteries, flares, a first aid kit, a properly inflated spare tire, jumper cables, a toolkit, blanket, warm clothes, hats, gloves, a brightly colored cloth, a traction increasing agent such as salt or sand, a compass, extra washer fluid, an ice scraper, a snow brush, a shovel, wooden stick matches in a waterproof container, and non-perishable, high energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits and hard candy.

For more on winter safety, visit the NSC website.

Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps Reserve communication detachment. From Grissom, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines routinely deploy around the globe in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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First day of winter brings ice, safety tips

Public Affairs Staff