38 ~ Friday, Nov. 20, 1992 ~ North Shore News

AUTOMOTIVE Timely suggestions for winter driving safety preparedness

WHAT WOULD you do if your car got stuck on the road in the cold of winter? How would you keep warm? How could you have avoided getting stuck in the first place?

If you know the answers to these questions, then you’re prob- ably quite well prepared for winter driving, but if you den't know the answers, then you should read this advice froin Emergency Preparedness Canada, the federal organization reponsible for ad- vancing civil preparedness for emergencies of all types.

You might consider membership in the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

S

é4 Drive with caution. Measure your speed to conditions. Be defensive. #9

If you do a lot of winter driving in isolated regions, ycu might also consider having a Citizen’s band radio or cellular phone.

Hiced the warnings

Turn on the radio and listen to the local weather forecast. If you hear warnings of winter weather conditions for blizzards, heavy snow, freezing rain or drizzle, cold waves and winds, then maybe you shouldn’t venture out on the highway.

Know the hazards @ Blizzards — a combination of falling, blowing, drifting snow, high winds, low visibility, cold temperatures (less than -10 C); duration — six hours or more.

@ Heavy snow — 15 cm or more in 12 hours.

© Freezing rain — an ice storm coating roads, trees, overhead wires, etc. with ice.

@ Winds — the cause of blizzard conditions, drifting, reducéd visibility and wind-chill effects, Weather offices issue warnings when a wind-chill {rate of cool- ing) of 2,000 watts per square metre is expected. This is cold enough to freeze a person’s face in less than a minute (equivalent to -40 C).

- Pre-winter check list — ignition

battery. wipers, lights defroster, cooling system, snow tires, fuel system, chains, lubrication, antifreeze, exhaust system, winter oil heater.

Winter travel kit checklist

For country driving put a winter storm kit in the trunk of your car. Even for city driving you should have some of these items with you: shovel, ice scraper and brush, sand. road maps, first-aid kit, tow chain, matches in water- proof container, Mashlight, knife, warning lights or road flares, candic in deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or to use as an emergency light), extra winter clothing and footwear, methyl hydrate (for fuel line and wind- shield de-icing), emergency food and water pack, axe or hatchet, booster cables, fire extinguisher, compass, pliers, sleeping bags, whistle, reflector or hand-held mirror for signalling, space blanket, screwdriver,

When vou travel ®@ Drive with caution. Measure your speed to conditions. Be defensive.

@ Don’t press on. If the going gets tough, turn tack or seek ref- uge.

© Try to keep to main roads.

@ Make sure you have ample gasoline.

@ Don’t be foolhardy.

@ Keep your radio tuned to a focal station for weather advice.

if you get trapped

Don't panic. Avoid over-exer- tion and exposure.

Shovelling and bitter cold can kill. Stay in your car. You won't get lost and you'll have a shelter.

Keep fresh air in your car. Open a window on the side sheltered from the wind. Run your motor sparingly. Beware of ex- haust fumes; ensure the exhaust pipe is not blecked by snow. Remember, you can’t smell car- bon monoxide fumes.

You can run the car engine about 10 minutes every nalf hour — as long as your exhaust system is working well.

Set out warning lights or flares Put on the dome light. Overuse of headlights may run down your battery. .

Exercise your limbs, hands and feet vigorously. Keep moving and . don’t fall asleep. Keep watch for traffic or searchers.

Dressing for the cold

Put on a hat as well as extra socks and mittens. Without a hat, you can lose up to 60% of your bady heat. Add extra outer wear, or a pair of coveralls as the extra layers of clothing will trap warm air near the body, acting as in- sulation,

Cautien: do not drink alcohol in bitter cold as it lowers the body temperature.

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