Cold weather safety tips from CDC

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - With the temperatures dropping to levels the area hasn’t seen in two years, there are several steps needed to ensure safety in the cold.

The Centers for Disease Control has several tips on how to prepare both your home and vehicle before the cold hits.

Make sure your home is winter-ready by doing the following:

• Insulate walls and the attic
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside
• Insulate any water lines that run along outer walls, that way water is less likely to freeze
• Service snow-removal equipment
• Have chimney and flue inspected
• Install easy to read outdoor thermometer

The CDC also recommends leaving all water taps slightly open so they continuously drip. Also leave cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air in.

If pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Instead, thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.

Prepare your vehicle for the winter weather by checking the following:

• Antifreeze
• Windshield wiper fluid (wintertime mixture)
• Heater
• Brakes
• Ignition
• Emergency flashers
• Exhaust
• Tires (air pressure and wear)
• Fuel
• Oil
• Brake fluid
• Defroster
• Battery
• Radiator

For more on how to prepare for cold weather, click here . 

During the cold, make sure to stay safe both inside and outside your home. The CDC offers the following suggestions while indoors:

• If you use a wood stove, fireplace or space heater, only use them if they are properly vented to the outside. Do not burn paper in fireplaces.
• Never use a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch fire.
• Don’t cook with charcoal or gas grills indoors.
• Never use a generator indoors.

While outside, dress warmly with a hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, sleeves that are snug at the wrist, mittens, water-resistant coats and boots and several layers of loose-fitting clothing.

Avoid exertion and prolonged exposure to the cold.

For more information from the CDC, check out the Extreme Cold Guide by clicking here .