Winter Hazard Awareness Week

Next week is the annual observance of Winter Hazard Awareness Week. It’s a reminder for people to be prepared for the many types of safety concerns that can arise from the winter weather.

Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has a theme for each day next week including a weather overview, outdoor winter safety, fire safety, indoor winter safety and driving safety. He says the most important thing for motorists to remember is to slow down and drive according to the conditions because – even if you have 4-wheel or all-wheel drive, it helps you with traction, but it won’t help you stop quickly when it’s slippery.

Sheriff Cruze says it’s a good idea to keep a survival kit in your vehicle with warm clothing, blankets and other supplies such as a cell phone charger, and if you get stalled or go in the ditch, leave a note in the vehicle if you leave it so that law enforcement will know where you are. He says this time of year is a good time to refresh your smoke detector batteries and make sure carbon monoxide detectors are working – and have them installed in your fish house too.

Sheriff Cruze says ice on waterways can be unpredictable so be cautious as the ice forms if you are going to venture out on lakes or rivers for fishing, snowmobiling and other activities. He says house fires seem to be more common in the winter months, so make sure your chimneys are cleaned, candles are not left unattended and that holiday decorations are in good repair.

Sheriff Cruze says the outdoor warning sirens will not be tested in the winter months as they are on the first Wednesday of the warmer months as the snow and cold temperatures are hard on the equipment, but if there is some type of civil emergency, the sirens will still be used. He says it’s important to use common sense, plan ahead, and you can find road information at 511mn.org.