Snow Safety Tips from Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One

As of noon today, personnel have responded to a few emergency calls, but no more than usual. The majority of those emergencies have been related to falls caused by the slippery conditions. So, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One’s Prevention Division would like to remind citizens to use extreme caution if you need to go outside today and for the next 24-48 hours.

Here are other preventive measures you can take to avoid falling or slipping on a slippery surface.

• Make sure that the path to your door, garage and mailbox are shoveled and free of debris.
• If walkways are icy, melt down the ice by sprinkling salt over the slippery area or cover the ice with something gritty or non-slippery. Remember, the thicker the ice, the longer it takes to melt. Ideally you should sprinkle salt before or immediately after a storm, especially in areas of the driveway or sidewalk you know are prone to being icy.
• Allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go in winter weather. Taking your time will reduce your risk of falling, especially if you use an assistive walking device.
• Dress for the weather! If you do happen to fall, it is important to stay as warm as possible while you wait for help to arrive. 

Firefighters have noticed a great deal of people out sledding. Though it may seem like harmless fun, sledding injuries send tens of thousands of kids to hospital emergency rooms each year. More than half of all sledding injuries are head injuries, which can be very serious and even deadly. Statistics also show that sledders are more likely to be injured in collisions than skiers or snowboarders.

Choose the Right Sledding Hill

When hills get coated with snow, they may all look like great locations for sledding, but be very careful when choosing a location for your kids to sled. Not all hills are safe.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when it comes to picking the right spot to sled:

• Select a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom for your kids to glide to a stop.
• Avoid hillsides that end near a street or parking lot.
• Avoid hillsides that end near ponds, trees, fences, or other hazards.
• Make sure the hill is free of obstacles such as jumps, bumps, rocks, or trees before your kids begin sledding.
• Choose hills that are snowy rather than icy. If a child falls off a sled, icy slopes make for hard landings.
• Always try to have your kids sled during the daytime, when visibility is better. If they do go sledding at night, make sure the hillside is well lit and all potential hazards are visible.
• Make your kids wear helmets, particularly if they're 12 or under. Helmets designed for winter sports work best, but if you don't have one, make sure they at least wear a bike helmet or something similar.  Helmets that can be used for sledding are available at the Kimball Fire Station.

Some Simple Safety Rules

Your kids have the right kind of sled and helmets, they're dressed warmly, and you've picked out a perfect hill for them to sled down. They're ready to go.

There are still a few rules they need to follow, though, to keep themselves and other sledders safe:

• Be sure a responsible adult is present to supervise. In the event someone does get injured, there should always be an adult on hand to administer first aid and, if necessary, take the injured sledder to the emergency room or call 911.
• Young kids (5 and under) should sled with an adult, and kids under 12 should be actively watched at all times.
• Children should always sit on their bottoms face-forward on their sleds. Never let them sled down a hill backwards or while standing, and make sure they don't go down the hill face-first, as this greatly increases the risk of a head injury.
• Insist that kids go down the hill one at a time and with only one person per sled (except for adults with young kids). Piling more than one person on a sled just means there are more things on the hill that they can collide with.
• Don't let kids build an artificial jump or obstacle on a sledding hill.
• Remind kids to keep their arms and legs within the sled at all times. If they fall off the sled, tell them to move out of the way. Teach them that if they're on a sled that won't stop, to roll off it and get away from it.
• Make kids walk up the side of the hill and leave the middle open for other sledders.
• Never allow a child to ride a sled that is being pulled by a moving vehicle.

While it's unlikely that kids will be injured while sledding, the possibility definitely exists. Just take a little extra time to dress them properly and make sure they follow these safety guidelines. They'll have a better time, and you'll rest easier knowing you have less to worry about. Sledding is supposed to be fun; keep your kids safe and warm, and you'll ensure that it is!

As the snowfall begins to subside, Pierce County Emergency Management cautions that downed power lines and trees leaning on power lines may pose a significant danger to people. By taking some simple precautions residents can avoid the dangers of downed power lines and trees.

If residents come across a downed power line they are encouraged to:

• Stay at least 30 feet in all directions from downed power lines and expect that they are live.
• Never try to move or touch them.
• Never walk under downed power lines.
• Avoid trees and branches in contact with power lines.
• Never drive over downed power lines.
• If you must exit your vehicle because of fire or other safety reasons, try to jump completely clear, making sure that you do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land with both feet together and shuffle away in small steps to minimize the path of electric current and avoid electrical shock.

Residents should also be aware that heavy amounts of snow resting on roofs and tree limbs could be potentially dangerous.

If there is any potential danger call 911 right away. As all this snow and ice melts over the next couple of days there is an increased risk of ponding at storm drains. Ponding can occur when water backs up on roofs and in drainage systems. Please do your part to keep storm drains cleared to mitigate this potential hazard.

Have fun and be safe from Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One.