Take it slow, easy and enjoy winter wonderland
This week was a walk down memory lane for me, especially when I woke up with two feet of snow on the flat and it was still snowing.
As a kid living close to the Canadian border, my dad would wake us up and have my brother and I crawl out our bedroom window so that we could dig out the front door. Life still went on even though we had lots of snow to deal with.
In this week's article, I thought I would discuss winter safety.
Driving back from Priest River in heavy snow, a lady flew past me in a blaze of glory. She was driving a Cadillac Escalade with Oregon plates. About a mile down the road, she spun around in a 360-degree circle and off the road she went. When I stopped to check on her, she said there was a moose in the road. I told her, "Yes, ma'am. We have those here."
I'm sure she got a few more gray hairs from that experience. Her vehicle was buried in a snow bank that the county had just placed there with a snow plow. She didn't have safety equipment in her vehicle so I used mine. I called a tow truck at her request. When the truck arrived, we dug out her vehicle; she and her dented fender went to Sandpoint for accommodations.
I relay this experience because this lady broke just about every winter safety rule in the book and, because of that, she could have lost her life.
Winter is a beautiful time of year; however, it also can be the most threatening time of the year if you don't follow some simple safety rules.
Winter driving kit
A well-stocked winter driving kit makes life a lot easier when you absolutely need it. Here is one example.
? Properly fitting tire chains.
? Bag of sand (kitty litter works great.)
? Snow shovel.
? Ice scraper with a brush.
? Jumper cables.
? Warning device, such as flares.
? Flashlight with extra batteries.
? Blanket.
? Extra clothing.
? First aid kit.
? Emergency food and water. Food is a great thing to have if you're sitting in a snow bank for several hours.
? Matches and a couple of candles. It is surprising how well they can warm up the interior of a car.
? Cell phone for emergency help.
How should you drive in winter weather?
? Buckle up before you start driving. When I found this lady, she was in the passenger seat. I don't think she was driving from that side of the car.
? Slow down. This lady passed me doing at least 65 mph. She should have been doing about 30 mph. Your speed should be based on the conditions of the road, not the posted speed limit.
? Be alert. She saw the moose; however, too late to stop.
? Drive with your lights on so the person behind you can see your tail lights.
? Give yourself extra time to drive from one location to another.
? Lengthen your following distance; that way you don't have to slam on your brakes (which will only cause you to slide uncontrollably.)
? Steer with smooth and precise movements. Changing lanes too fast or jerking your steering wheel can cause you to skid.
? If you are facing a white-out (extra heavy snow fall), pull off the road.
What to do if you get stuck or stranded in the snow:
? Don't panic.
? Avoid over-exertion. Sweaty clothes next to the skin are not good insulators against the cold.
? Stay in the car if you cannot shovel your car out of the snow.
? Stay in the car in blizzard conditions. Wait until it passes.
? Turn on your emergency flashers and set up your flares. A flag on your antenna helps tell others you need help.
? Run your car 10 minutes every hour to provide heat in the car. Your gas will last longer.
? Never let your gas tank get below half of a tank before you fill up.
? Bundle up in a blanket. Snuggle up if there are two of you; both of you will stay warm by sharing body heat.
? Wear a hat — the head is a ajor source of heat loss from the body.
? Do not fall asleep. If there is more than one person in the car, take turns sleeping.
? Watch for traffic or rescuers.
In a closing note, I'll share with you a quote from my dad — "Prior planning prevents poor performance." If you think about it, you'll see that my Pop was right. I hope you all enjoy our winter wonderland.
If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed Madan at NWES at 255-2266; e-mail him at madan@surf1.ws; or send them to the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864; Attn: What Would Ed Do.
For more information aabout Ed, check him out online at NWEES.com.
? Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the chief executive officer of Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.