Winter Weather Awareness Week

As the weather starts to grow colder, the fall takes a week at the end of October to promote winter safety. This week, known as Winter Weather Awareness Week, lasted from Oct. 26-30.

Winter Weather Awareness Week was started in the 1990s as a joint public awareness campaign coordinated by state emergency management agencies. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) collaborate and educate during this week. North Dakota Winter Weather Awareness week is mostly put together by the NWS. This week was created to give people an early reminder of the coming winter season and to promote public safety and reduce the risk of avoidable injuries and accidents. This week is an important annual reminder of how the public can be cautious during the hazardous and bitter winter season.

Each day of Winter Weather Awareness Week is themed to different safety risks that the public should be aware of during the season. Monday, Oct. 26, was all about staying informed with the NWS and understanding weather watches, warnings and advisories. Tuesday, Oct. 27, was about being prepared while being outside by making sure to wear a winter coat, hat and gloves when it's below freezing (32°F). Another piece of advice is to start your car and let it run for about five minutes to avoid engine problems.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, was themed around staying safe and healthy this winter. An easy way to prevent hypothermia or frostbite is to stay indoors when it is below freezing. Do not venture out into the winter cold when the weather is severe.

Staying healthy is also important during the winter. This period of the year is when people are most susceptible to catching colds and viruses, so it's important to stay hydrated, take vitamin C and eat healthy to keep your body in the proper shape to fight off sicknesses.

Thursday, Oct. 29, emphasized remaining vigilant about indoor dangers such as maintaining heating equipment and vents in homes in order to prevent buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Finally, Friday, Oct. 30, was about highway and travel safety in the winter through a demonstration on how to make winter emergency kits for your vehicle. Stay off the highways as much as possible in the winter, especially when roads are very icy and slick. Slower speeds while driving through slush, snow and ice are also recommended so that sliding off the road may be better avoided. It’s also recommended that drivers double the space they leave between vehicles.

Winter may not yet fully be here, but it is certainly on its way and will show up quickly. Keeping these easy steps and tips in mind can be the key to keeping your winter a safe one.