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- Avoid
overexertion and exposure. Attempting
to push your car, shovel heavy drifts,
and other difficult chores during a
blizzard may cause a heart attack even
for someone in apparently good
physical condition.
- Stay in
your vehicle. Do not attempt to walk
out of a blizzard. Disorientation
comes quickly in blowing and drifting
snow. You are more likely to be found
when sheltered in your car.
- Keep
fresh air in your car. Freezing wet
snow and wind driven snow can
completely seal the passenger
compartment.
- Beware
the gentle killers: Carbon monoxide
and oxygen starvation. Run the motor
and heater sparingly, and only with
the downwind window open for
ventilation. Make sure the tailpipe is
unobstructed.
- Exercise
by clapping hands and moving arms and
legs vigorously from time to time, and
do not stay in one position for long.
- Turn on
dome light at night. It can make your
vehicle visible to work crews.
- Keep watch. Do not allow all
occupants of the car to sleep at once.
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- Keep an
eye out for the approach of dark,
threatening clouds, which may be
associated with thunderstorms; a
steadily increasing wind or sea; any
developing decrease in visibility such
as fog; and any increase in wind
velocity opposite in direction to
strong tidal current. A dangerous rip
tide condition may form steep waves
that can breach a boat.
- Check
radio weather broadcasts for the
latest forecasts and warnings.
- Heavy
static on your AM radio may be an
indication of nearby thunderstorm
activity.
- If a
thunderstorm catches you off guard,
remember that not only gusty winds but
also lightning poses a threat to
safety. A. Stay below deck if
possible. B. Keep away from metal
objects that are not grounded to the
boat's protection system. C. Do not
touch more than one grounded object
simultaneously or you may become a
shortcut for electrical surges passing
through the protection system. D. Put
on a life jacket and prepare for rough
waters.
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- If dense
dust is observed blowing across or
approaching a roadway, pull your
vehicle off the pavement as far as
possible, stop, turn off lights, set
the emergency brake, and take your
foot off the brake pedal to ensure
that tail lights are not illuminated.
- Do not
enter the dust storm area if you can
avoid it.
- If you
cannot pull off the roadway, go at a
speed suitable for visibility, turn on
lights and sound horn occasionally.
Use the painted center line to guide
you. Look for a safe place to pull off
the roadway.
- Never
stop on the traveled portion of the
roadway.
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When a flash
flood warning is issued for your area, or
the moment you first realize that a flash
flood is imminent, act quickly to save
yourself. You may only have seconds.
- Get out
of areas subject to flooding. This
includes dips, low spots, canyons,
washes, etc.
- Avoid
already flooded and high velocity flow
areas. Do not attempt to cross a
flowing stream on foot where the water
is above your knees.
- If
driving, know the depth of water in a
dip before crossing. The road bed may
not be intact under the water.
- If the
vehicle stalls, abandon it
immediately; seek higher ground.
Rapidly rising water may engulf the
vehicle and its occupants and sweep
them away.
- Be
especially cautious at night when it
is harder to recognize flood dangers.
- Do not
camp or park your vehicle along
streams and washes, particularly
during threatening conditions.
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- Drive
with lights on low beam. High beams
will only be reflected back off the
fog and actually impair visibility
even more.
- Slow
down. . .Slow down. . .Slow down.
- Listen
for traffic you cannot see.
- Use
wipers and defrosters as necessary for
maximum visibility.
- Be
patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.
- Do not
stop on a freeway or heavily traveled
road. If your car stalls or becomes
disabled, move away from the vehicle
to avoid personal injury.
- Consider
postponing your trip until the fog
clears. Usually by late morning or
during the afternoon, visibilities
improve.
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- Slow
down. Strenuous activities should be
reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to
the coolest time of the day.
Individuals at risk should stay in the
coolest available place, not
necessarily indoors.
- Dress
for summer. Lightweight, light colored
clothing reflects heat and sunlight,
and helps your body maintain normal
temperatures.
- Try not
to eat as much. Foods that increase
metabolic heat production also
increase water loss.
- Drink
plenty of water or other non-alcoholic
fluids. Your body needs water to keep
cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if
you do not feel thirsty (unless your
physician has directed otherwise).
- Do not
drink alcoholic beverages. This is the
same advice given for extremely cold
weather. Alcoholic beverages will
constrict the blood vessels, which
will prevent adequate blood
circulation to remove excess heat.
- Do not
take salt tablets unless specified by
a physician.
- Spend
more time in air-conditioned places.
Air conditioning in homes and other
buildings markedly reduces danger from
the heat. If you cannot afford an air
conditioner, spending some time each
day (during hot weather) in an
air-conditioned environment affords
some protection.
- Do not
get too much sun. Sunburn makes the
job of heat dissipation that much more
difficult.
- Do not
leave your children or pets alone
inside automobiles during extremely
hot days. The temperature inside
vehicles can climb rapidly and may
exceed 100 degrees.
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When a
thunderstorm threatens. . .
- Get
inside a home, large building, or an
all-metal (not convertible)
automobile.
- Do not
use the telephone except for
emergencies.
- Do not
stand underneath a natural lightning
rod such as a tall, isolated tree or a
telephone pole.
- Avoid
projecting above the surrounding
landscape; for example, do not stand
on a hilltop.
- In a
forest, seek shelter in a low area
under a thick growth of small trees.
In open areas, go to a low place such
as a ravine or valley.
- Get away
from open water, tractors and other
metal farm equipment, and mall metal
vehicles such as motorcycles,
bicycles, and golf carts.
- Avoid
wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes
and rails; put down golf clubs.
- Finally,
if you are caught out in a level field
or in the open, away from shelter, and
you feel your hair stand on end,
lightning may be about to strike you.
Drop to your knees and bend forward,
putting your hands on your knees. Do
not lie flat on the ground.
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When a
tornado threatens, immediate action can
save your life.
- Avoid
windows, doors and outside walls;
protect your head.
- In homes
and small buildings, go to the
basement or to an interior part of the
lowest level; such as a closet, a
bathroom, or an interior hallway. Get
underneath something sturdy.
- In
schools, nursing homes, hospitals,
factories, and shopping centers, go to
pre-designated shelter areas. Interior
hallways on the lowest floor are
usually the safest.
- In
high-rise buildings, go to interior
small rooms or hallways.
- Leave
mobile homes or vehicles, and go to a
substantial shelter. If there is no
shelter nearby, lie flat in the
nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert with
your hands shielding your head. Be
alert for rapidly rising waters in the
ditch.
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Keep ahead
of winter storms by preparing ahead. . .
- Check
battery powered equipment before the
storm arrives. A portable radio or
television set may be your only
contact with the world outside.
- Check
your food stock and extra supplies.
Your supply should include food that
requires no cooking or refrigeration
in case of power failure.
- Stay
indoors during storms unless you are
in peak physical condition. If you
must go out, avoid overexertion.
- Do not
kill yourself shoveling snow. It is
extremely hard work for anyone in less
than prime physical condition, and can
bring on a heart attack, a major cause
of death during and after winter
storms.
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- If the
storm exceeds or even tests your
limitation, seek available refuge
immediately.
- Plan
your travel and select primary and
alternate routes.
- Check
the latest weather information on your
radio.
- Try not
to travel alone; two or three persons
are preferable.
- Always
fill your gasoline tank before
entering open country, even for a
short distance.
- Suggested
winter storm car kit includes blankets
or sleeping bags, matches and candles,
empty 3-pound coffee can with plastic
lid (for melting snow to provide
drinking water), facial tissue, paper
towels, extra clothing, high calorie,
nonperishable food, compass, shovel,
sack of sand, flashlight or signal
light, windshield scrapper, booster
cables, tire chains, tow chains, fire
extinguisher, catalytic heater and
axe.
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