How To Stay Safe During A West Michigan Winter

Winter storms are beautiful, but we need to know how to keep ourselves safe.

We here on the West side of the state are not really put off by the winter months, but that might not work in our favor. We are so used to dealing with the snow, and cold that we forget that bad things could happen. Nationwide.com had some great advice for handling Jack Frost...

Keep Yourself Safe...

• Stay indoors during the storm
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways
• Stay dry - wet clothing loses all of its insulating value
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling. A major cause of death during the winter is a heart attack due to shoveling and pushing yourself too hard.

This morning I was listening to the school closings and delays. Unfortunately, as adults with jobs, we don't get snow days or delays. With that said, we have to head out on the roads. We all hope it never happens, but what if you slide off the road? Here are the recommendations from nationwide.com for keeping yourself safe if you are trapped in your car.

If You Find Yourself Trapped In Your Vehicle...

• Remain inside the vehicle.
• Clear any snow from the exhaust pipe to reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes every hour.
• Move around to maintain heat.
• Use maps, floor mats and seat covers for insulation.
• Take turns sleeping. Someone should always be awake to alert rescuers.
• Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Turn on the inside light at night so rescuers can find you.
• If you are in a remote area, stomp out the words "SOS" or "Help" in the snow.

We here in West Michigan love our winter months, we just need to safe so we can experience next winter.