White blankets of snow, shimmering frost and crystal icicles hanging from the trees paint the most beautiful pictures of winter. But the weather outside can be frightful for those who must step outside and navigate the hazards of winter. Over 70 percent of the roads in the U.S. are located in wintery regions that accumulate more than five inches of snow on average annually, and that spells danger when the temperature starts to drop.

Whether you’re used to dealing with a lot of snow and ice or you’re experiencing frigid weather for the first time, every winter season finds people unsure of how to react to the hazardous conditions that come with it. From understanding how to dress for certain weather events (hypothermia can happen in temperatures as high as 50°F ), knowing what temperatures will create black ice on the road even though it looks clear while driving, and being able to tell when to salt walkways to prevent slip, trip and fall incidents—staying safe is a complicated proposition as winter wreaks havoc. And everyone can use a reminder about some winter safety best practices.

Before we get into snowy specifics, we need to make sure we’re all speaking the same common language. A few key definitions are important when it comes to understanding the far-reaching impacts of winter weather.

Black ice – a clear film of ice on a dark surface (like a road, parking lot or paved driveway) that is difficult to see.

Blizzard – a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility.

Freezing rain – rain that freezes on impact with the ground or solid objects, creating icy surfaces.

Frostbite – the most common freezing injury caused by exposure of the skin and underlying tissues to extreme cold, usually on the hands and feet.

Hypothermia – a condition that occurs when more heat is lost than a person’s body can generate and their core body temperature drops dangerously below 95°F. As a person develops hypothermia, they slowly lose the ability to think and move.

Sleet – a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow.

Whiteout – a weather phenomenon when blowing snow severely limits visibility. Whiteouts may create scenarios where snow completely blocks a driver’s view of the road.

Watches, advisories and warnings

As with other severe weather like thunderstorms and hurricanes, readiness is crucial to staying safe in winter storms. Thankfully, your local National Weather Service office can predict when severe winter weather will strike, issuing watches, advisories and warnings so that the public can be prepared. But do you know the difference between a watch, advisory or warning when it comes to winter storms?

Winter Storm Watches are issued at least 24 hours in advance of a storm to allow people enough lead time to make plans to stay safe. A watch indicates the risk of hazardous winter weather manifesting has increased to 50% or greater, but its actual occurrence, location and timing are still uncertain. Reflecting the wide variety of winter storm weather, watches can vary depending on what weather is forecast.  A Blizzard Watch, for instance, will be issued for an expected blizzard event with less than ¼ mile visibility due to falling or blowing snow, and winds of at least 35 mph.

As the weather event becomes imminent, once it has over an 80%  chance of occurring, a watch will normally be upgraded to either an advisory or a warning.

Winter Weather Advisories are issued for conditions that are not hazardous enough to meet warning criteria but still pose a significant inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life or property. These include snowfall of three to five inches in 12 hours, sleet accumulation up to ½ inch, freezing rain in combination with sleet and/or snow or blowing snow. Separate advisories may be issued for a specific element like a Freezing Rain Advisory, which is issued when ice accumulation is expected up to ¼ inch.

A Winter Storm Warning indicates that conditions will pose a threat to life or property and that travel will become difficult. A winter storm warning includes heavy snow of at least six inches in 12 hours or at least eight inches in 24 hours. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least ½ inch. Separate warnings may be issued for specific elements like an Ice Storm Warning, indicating that ice accumulation of at least ¼ inch is expected, or a Blizzard Warning, indicating that blizzard conditions are expected to continue for at least three hours.

Severe winter storm preparation tips

If there’s ever a time that it’s vital to be prepared before a storm hits, it’s the winter. Understanding human factors can play a big role in ensuring you’re ready to face the ice-cold dangers of the season. Complacency or forgetting the severity of winter weather risks can cause serious injuries and fatalities. Fatigue can creep up on you in the winter if you unexpectedly have to shovel or walk in deep snow, and frustration can also come on pretty quickly if you’re not expecting traffic delays due to seasonal road conditions or their resulting accidents. All of these scenarios can cause delays that lead to rushing, another human factor that is exponentially worse in winter conditions. Given this seasonal flurry of human factors, being prepared is the best way to manage risk in the coldest months of the year.

It’s a good idea to make winter prep a habit in the event that bad weather arises because even with watches, advisories and warnings issued by the National Weather Service, you want to avoid rushing to get everything you need before a storm arrives and conditions start to deteriorate. Often, the primary concerns in a winter storm are the potential loss of heat, power, cellular service and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day. For specific situations, here are some reliable preparation tips that can help keep you safe 24/7 in winter.

What to do before winter weather strikes

1. Put together an emergency kit that includes things like a three-day supply of water, food that won’t spoil, a first-aid kit, prescription medicines, a battery-powered or wind-up portable radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, an extra set of car keys and cash.
2. It’s important to have a similar emergency kit stored in your vehicle. Make sure the vehicle kit has winter-specific items like blankets and sleeping bags, one change of clothing and footwear per person, a sack of sand or cat litter for traction, a shovel, a candle and matches to provide light and lifesaving heat in an emergency. Also include jumper cables, a flashlight, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.
3. Keep a full tank of gas.
4. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
5. Practice your emergency evacuation plan (at home and at work)—ensure everyone knows the designated meeting place, important phone numbers and safety rules.
6. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
7. Winterize all your vehicles before the season is in full swing.
8. Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping.

What to do at work

1. Follow the instructions of the personnel in charge of your workplace’s emergency plan.
2. Locate an emergency kit in the event of a power outage and need to stay in the building.
3. If the weather is bad enough that the facility must close, it’s the responsibility of the employer to notify all employees of the closure.
4. Make sure the office building is safe—clear sidewalks and parking lots of snow and ice, and use salt on areas where people walk.
5. Make sure there is heat in certain areas of the building, and cordon off the areas where there isn’t any heat.
6. Generators should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows and doors.
7. Listen to radio updates on weather conditions.
8. If possible, prepare employees to work at home when necessary.

What to do at home

1. Follow your home emergency plan.
2. Listen to radio updates on weather conditions.
3. When using alternative heat from a wood stove or space heater, make sure you properly ventilate—carbon monoxide is a silent killer in the winter.
4. Generators should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
5. If heat is not available, close off unneeded rooms, seal the bottoms of doors with towels and try to contain heat in certain areas.
6. Make sure to eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep your body replenished with water to prevent dehydration.
7. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent chill—perspiration can lead to frostbite and hypothermia in cold temperatures.

What to do if you’re outside

1. If possible, seek shelter and try to stay dry.
2. If you are not near a vehicle or a building of any kind, turn to nature for shelter from the wind. Check to see if the area has any trees and brush. If there’s thick enough tree coverage, build a shelter out of branches. If building a shelter in the trees is not possible, dig a snow fort or snow cave. Deep snow is a great insulator.
3. Build a fire to not only create heat but also draw attention to where you are located. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
4. Make sure to eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with water to prevent dehydration. Do not eat snow—it will lower your body temperature.
5. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill—perspiration can lead to frostbite and hypothermia in cold temperatures.

What to do if you’re in your vehicle

1. If driving in white-out conditions, it is recommended to navigate your vehicle to a safe place to stop—a parking lot or an area where your vehicle will be seen, away from traveled portions of the road to avoid chain-reaction collisions. It can be easy to become disoriented in wind-driven snow.
2. Check to see if you have cell reception and let someone know where you are.
3. Make sure the vehicle’s exhaust pipe is not blocked.
4. Turn the vehicle on for ten minutes every hour or so to run the heat. If this is no longer possible, use the candle and can from your emergency kit as a source of heat inside the vehicle.
5. Stay inside the vehicle until the severe weather subsides. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Red and painful skin can be a sign of frostbite. Change into dry clothes and shoes from the emergency kit while remaining inside the vehicle under a dry blanket.
6. Vigorously move arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
7. Make sure to eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with water to prevent dehydration. Do not eat snow—it is mostly made of air and melting it in your mouth exhausts your body’s energy.
8. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill—perspiration can lead to frostbite and hypothermia in cold temperatures.

Now that you’re prepared for the next severe winter weather activity in your vicinity, spread the word to help build the winter preparation habit in your workplace. Print the guidelines in this post, use them in your digital display presentations or incorporate them into a toolbox talk to ensure that your employees are safe in the event of severe winter weather.