November
In Focus Banner Winter Worries - Be Prepared

InFocus Gray Logo  Important Documents - Do you know where they are?   

important documents

Why it's important: After a major disaster, you may need financial assistance and will want to document any property loss for insurance and income tax purposes. Having ready access to the documents necessary for completing application forms, as well as those which could be difficult to replace, will help reduce potential delay and frustration.

You can also scan the documents onto your computer and store them on a CD or memory stick. Make sure you check regularly that these still function properly.

For further information see our Prepare in a Year Important Documents Activity page.

 

InFocus Gray Logo       Cold Weather Preparedness         InFocus Gray Logo


blue sunshine with earmuffs - depicting cold

Rain, Wind, and Snow

Taking the time to prepare before the winter weather hits could save your life and the lives of those you love.

Flooding, especially urban flooding, can occur this time of year due to heavy rain fall - find out more information:

  
 


INDOORS - Heating your home

Remember - charcoal grills should never be used indoors and generators must be outside your living area, in a well ventilated area. Learn more:
          - Generator Safety (PDF) / Video
          - Carbon Monoxide Danger

When the temperature inside your home is too cold to stay, have you planned what you will do or where you will go?

  • Do you have a safe way to heat a small room?
  • Can you stay with a relative or at a friend's house?
  • Is a local motel an option? Do they have heat? What is their phone number?
 male with thermometer depicting freezing weather
male with earmuffs with icicles overhead


OUTDOORS - Heating your body

Hypothermia is particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening.

Warnings signs of hypothermia:

Adults:

  • shivering, exhaustion
  • confusion, fumbling hands
  • memory loss, slurred speech
  • drowsiness

Infants:

  • bright red, cold skin
  • very low energy



Frostbite can also be a problem when the wind chill factor is low.

Warnings signs of frostbite:

  • numbness
  • stiffness or rigidity
  • swelling
  • change in skin appearance to a reddish, bluish or whitish color

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fact Sheets:

In English
In Spanish
In Russian
In Korean
In Chinese
In Vietnamese
 

Additional Resources:

  

InFocus Gray Logo       Health Problems - Precautions       InFocus Gray Logo

 

male with handerchief

Prevent the Spread of Germs

Fact Sheets:

In English
In Spanish
In Russian
In Korean
In Chinese
In Cambodian
In Vietnamese

Safety Posters:

Germ Stopper
Germ Stopper for Kids 1
Germ Stopper for Kids 2

Posters in multiple languages

Cover Your Cough

Fact Sheets:

In English
In Spanish
In Russian
In Korean
In Chinese
In Cambodian
In Vietnamese


Safety Posters:

Cover Your Cough 1
Cover Your Cough 2

Posters in multiple languages

Sources:

- Center for Disease Control
- Mayo Clinic
- Washington Department of Health
- NOAA National Weather Service

Additional Preparedness Resources:

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Download Microsoft Word Reader Microsoft Word Reader
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download Microsoft Excel Reader Microsoft Excel Reader