It’s getting cold – are you prepared to handle any winter weather emergencies in Chicago or the surrounding area? Although you hope you’ll never need this advice, it’s smart to be ready for anything the wind, snow and ice storms throw your way. In order to keep your family safe and comfortable, here are a few tips for what to do during winter weather emergencies in Chicago:
What to do before a power outage
Have an emergency kit on hand for use during a power outage. Your kit should include, at minimum, flashlights, extra batteries, and either a battery-operated or hand-crank radio. Make sure you have a cell phone charger in your car, since a smart-phone can be a great way to stay connected to the outside world during a blackout. Just don’t idle your car in the garage.
You may also want to consider adding warming products such as “hot hands” for added warmth. Have a plan in place for how you’ll keep your family warm. If you have a gas or wood-burning stove or fireplace, make sure you have plenty of fuel on hand and that the room has ample ventilation.
What to do during an outage
When power is lost, you should unplug all sensitive electronics (TVs, microwaves, computers, etc.) as voltage irregularities could occur when power is restored. Staying warm and healthy is of utmost importance throughout winter weather emergencies in Chicago. You and your family should wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, as opposed to one layer of heavy clothing. Hats should be worn to prevent heat-loss from your body, and either gloves or mittens should be used (mittens are preferable).
Be on guard for any signs of hypothermia, which include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, exhaustion and slurred speech. Should these symptoms be detected, you should seek medical help promptly. In the event that your water supply is affected, you can use melted snow as an additional water source, and snow drifts can also be used as a makeshift refrigerator or freezer (depending on how cold it is outside). Be cautious when outdoors as downed electrical wires could be hidden by snowdrifts or debris.
For more advice on what to do during winter weather emergencies in Chicago, contact us at Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. We’ve been serving the northwest Chicago suburbs since 1946.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chicago, Illinois about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about winter weather emergency preparedness and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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