Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Hints to pre pare for cold weather

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Chartreux
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2006
Posts : 9664
Posted 12/16/2016 7:40 AM (GMT -7)
Change all air filters in the house, stock up on food, have peanut butter, jelly and bread or healthy foods and water, lots of water in case the power goes off, Have blankets washed and ready, because they might be dusty if taken out of storage.
If you need chaines on tires go to discount tires so they can either show you or put them on, don't be a hero and don't go out if you don't have to a snow storm is a bad storm...
Any other tips, lets pass them on and stay warm it's going to bad for everyone this weekend.
profile picture
pitmom
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2015
Posts : 2777
Posted 12/16/2016 7:52 AM (GMT -7)
Keeping a pot of water simmering on the stove adds humidity to the air and helps add warmth. This must be paid attention to but is worth the effort.

Make sure you also stock up on toilet paper and cat litter, keep some newspapers on hand for the doggies. Rock salt and other ice melters can be very bad for pets paws, either from direct contact or from them licking to clean.

Check the batteries in the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors! Have an escape plan including a meeting place for after any emergency. Make sure pet carriers are at the ready. Stock up on pet foods too.

If your insurance allows, get a couple extra doses of meds and keep them in a 'go' bag. Copies of important documents should be kept in the bag as well.

If there is an extreme snowfall, remember to check that your chimney/smoke stack is clear of snow. If you can, check on your elderly neighbors and those living alone. Write down important numbers, in case you can't recharge your phone.
profile picture
pitmom
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2015
Posts : 2777
Posted 12/16/2016 8:00 AM (GMT -7)
One more thing...if you get stuck in your car in the snow...check the tailpipe and make sure it isn't getting blocked. Keep some snacks, like nuts which are high in protein in the car with extra blankets and flashlight or emergency lights.
profile picture
ImStrongerThanPain
New Member
Joined : Apr 2015
Posts : 19
Posted 12/16/2016 10:42 AM (GMT -7)
There are a few good suggestions here. Making sure you have adequate medications is a big one so you don't have to run to the store in a snow storm. Of course if you take controlled substances, that may be impossible since you can't fill those ahead of time (depending on your location, some places have some leeway).

Having a cane, walker or other assistive device if you do have to go outside can save you from a nasty fall.

I'm a car guy and wouldn't recommend tire chains though. Everybody in snowy climates should have dedicated snow tires, or at the very least good quality, well-rated all season tires. Snow chains are difficult to install in most cases, especially since they're rarely used so people simply aren't used to putting them on. They also often only give you marginal improvement over your tires without them.

If you have significant physical impairments, I'd highly recommend having a friend or neighbor lined up to shovel a path for you, get your mail, groceries, pick up meds or other errands. I had to take advantage of this several times and it was a lifesaver!
profile picture
Chartreux
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2006
Posts : 9664
Posted 12/16/2016 11:08 PM (GMT -7)
I tend to agree with you on the tire chains (grew up in Michigan and we never used them) However, people in areas with heavy snowfalls might need them.
Cat litter is good because it can give you traction on the snow and the weight on the back tires helps...anything you can put into the car to add weight on the back tires helps with traction...
Also if its snowing hard is it worth your life to go out in it? If you can stay home, then stay home...(I said "If")
Stay safe and keep those hints coming...
A big no-no is if your using a fireplace for the first time without it being professionally cleaned out...it could be plug up with dirt and build up which can close, clog the flutes(sp?)...
profile picture
White Beard
Forum Moderator
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 577 2009
Posts : 3740
Posted 12/17/2016 9:23 PM (GMT -7)
To make me feel better about the nasty winter weather that we sometimes have, I just go to the national weather service 7-Day Forecast page ( I always have it for my area as my home page) then I type in Eielson AFB Alaska ( I spent 4 years there at that base in the mid eighties, it is about 30 miles outside of Fairbanks) Anyway usually after seeing what their weather is, I usually feel allot better about the weather I'm experiencing here! Sometimes I will even check the weather where my daughter is in Minnesota and that makes me feel allot better too! Ha

Stay warm everyone, and have a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy!

White Beard
profile picture
straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Missing Key Value : en-US, 577 2003
Posts : 18304
Posted 12/19/2016 6:15 AM (GMT -7)
Its been plenty cold in N. Texas. We had a 50 degree drop on Saturday night. The wind came howling in & the bottom dropped quickly. Two mornings in a row 15 degrees, thats super cold for us.

Stay inside where its warm.
profile picture
Mercy&Grace
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2013
Posts : 1873
Posted 12/19/2016 2:28 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks for the suggestions. Even when I was a child, the cold was painful to me and I was healthy. Now that I am 63 and have back issues, nerve damage, RA & fibro it causes more problems. But, I'm not complaining. I'm Thankful my situation is no where nearly as bad as most of you have.

I live in Louisiana. Our winters aren't bad compared to other parts of the country. But, the huge temperature drop we had Saturday is something I am still trying to cope with. Several people I know had their a/c on and a few hours later they had to switch to their heat.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply




HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
FacebookFacebook TwitterTwitter PinterestPinterest LinkedInLinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.