I don’t want to point fingers, but it would appear that while welcoming in the New Year someone left the door open too long and let Cold Weather sneak in with 2010. Now, I’m not angry, but if the responsible party would be so kind as to clear this mess up and get back to tolerable winter weather, it would be greatly appreciated. It was fun while it lasted- the cold temps gave me a nice excuse to stay home this past weekend, wrap myself in a warm blanket, sit by the fire, and sip my hot chocolate. But when I realized this morning that I would have to face the brutally cold temps and- dare I say- leave the house, reality set in. It’s miserable. We’re seeing below-average temperatures nationwide, and with snow predicted for the St. Louis Area later this week, it would appear there is no escape.

I’ll admit- I’m a sucker for snow, so in order for me to be able to enjoy it, I’m going to have to get past the cold temperatures first. So with a few Red Cross tips, I’m tackling the cold temps head-on this week. Here’s how:

Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, wear mittens and a hat (preferably one that covers your ears). Today at work, I am wearing not one, but two pairs of pants and sporting an extra non-fashionable jacket (Yes, I may look ridiculous but people are far more forgiving when it’s cold, and I am far less apt to care when I am warm).

Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle. Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing. Since I can’t convince the office that it is too cold to drive to work, my gas tank is full and snow scraper ready to go.

Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water. I don’t have any pets, but if I did I would make sure they had someplace warm to stay. It’s also important to keep an eye out for strays.

Maintain heating equipment and chimneys. If you have to use alternative forms of heating to keep warm, ensure that you are doing so safely. Space heaters should be kept in an open space, turned off overnight, and should never be left unattended. And if you enjoy sitting by the fireplace like me, make sure your chimney has been cleaned recently and that you remember to shut the fireplace down at nighttime. 

These are just a few tips to keep you safe and warm this coming week. For these tips and more- because accumulating snow can mean a lot of different things in the St. Louis Area, download our Winter Storm Safety Checklist, to ensure that you are prepared for 1 or 10 inches come Thursday.

Stay warm!

Lindsey Weber is the Marketing and Communication Associate for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.