Winter Safety Tips for Erie Residents

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Attorney Grant Travis | Travis Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney, DUI Defense Attorney, Criminal Defense Attorney | Serving Erie, Crawford, Warren & all of Northwestern PA | Call the Travis Law Firm at 814-277-2222 today!

Erie has been bombarded with snow and ice in the past few weeks with additional winter weather still in the forecast. Given the harsh winter conditions, it is prudent to review some of the basic winter weather safety tips that can help you avoid injury and damage from severe weather conditions.

Protect Your Property and Yourself

Winter weather conditions can be very hard on your home and vehicle, in addition to creating a health risk. To help avoid problems, take steps to protect yourself and your property:

  • Setting faucets on a slow drip and opening cabinets under sinks can help avoid frozen pipes.
  • Make sure that you extinguish fires in your fireplace when you go to bed and you check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working correctly.
  • Keeping your thermostat at a consistent temperature at all times can help prevent frozen pipes and ice buildup on doors and windows.
  • Keep windows and doors clear of ice that can melt and leak into walls and ceilings.
  • Make sure that you stay updated on weather conditions. It is important to know when additional ice and snow might be expected for your area.
  • Always keep an emergency kit for your home and vehicle well-stocked with food, water, first-aid supplies, blankets, flashlights, batteries, extra clothing, and extra medications.
  • Wear winter clothing whenever you leave home. Coats, gloves, hats, scarves, and winter shoes can protect you from the bitter cold and help prevent injuries from slips and falls.
  • Install snow chains and other equipment to help increase traction when driving during the winter. Carry sand or cat litter in your vehicle to provide additional traction if your vehicle becomes stuck because of snow or ice.
  • Be careful when heating up your vehicle. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can accumulate quickly.
  • Stay hydrated during the winter. Just because the temperatures are cold, and snow is on the ground does not mean that you do not need to drink water to stay hydrated.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet during the winter, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. It can be easy to forget to follow a healthy routine when it is bitterly cold, and snow is still coming down.
  • When driving in winter weather conditions, remember to slow down, leave additional room between vehicles, and avoid all distractions. If you do not feel safe driving, do not attempt to drive. Drivers who are anxious might increase their risk of causing a wreck because they are nervous about driving in winter weather conditions.
  • If you are in an accident, remain in your vehicle and call for emergency medical services and the police. Use your emergency blankets to stay warm until help arrives.
  • Have a supply of rock salt and sand at home to place on walkways to help reduce the risk of falls.

It is very important to know how to avoid accidents and injuries during the winter and protect your property. For more information and safety tips, visit the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s website. The PEMA provides information and safety tips for winter storms and winter weather emergencies.

Erie, PA Personal Injury Law Firm

Because we are located in Erie, we understand the challenges you face when winter storms bring feet of snow and ice to our area. We face those same challenges. We practice criminal law and personal injury law. If you need an attorney to help you and your family with a criminal matter or personal injury accident, we can help. We can provide the guidance, support, and legal counsel you need as you work through a difficult and challenging issue.

Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our Erie attorneys.