Protecting yourself and your home from the cold

As temperatures fall below zero, there are some important safety tips to keep in mind.

By: TheIndyChannel.com Staff, Paris Lewbel

INDIANAPOLIS -- As temperatures fall below zero, there are some important safety tips to keep in mind.

The wind chills are in the 10 to 20 below zero range.

Some tips to stay safe in these bitter temps are:

Avoid traveling if possible and stay home
If you have to travel:
- Keep a full tank of gas in your car to make sure the tank or fuel lines don't freeze
- Prepare an emergency road kit with a bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter), blankets, food, water, maps, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, a snow shovel, a flashlight with extra batteries, ice scraper, extra warm clothing, warning devices (flares, triangles), basic toolkit, and a radio
- Tell friends or family where you're going if you have to get out and travel
Wear many layers if you'll be outside
Work slowly if performing chores outside
At home, open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
Let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

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