Cold weather preparations - KOAM TV 7

Cold weather preparations

Over the weekend freezing rain sleet and snow hit the Four State area causing each state's Department of Transportation to work on the roads in an effort to prevent accidents.

But what precautions can drivers themselves take?

For the last two years Sherry Roberson has been working for the Kansas-Land Goodyear in Pittsburg.  But that doesn't mean she never has car problems.

Cracked windshields during the winter-time has been a re-occurring problem for Roberson.

"It was irritating because it happens every winter-time to me it seems like," says Roberson.

So Roberson does what she can control, like getting new wipers, using de-icing fluids on the windshields and getting new tires.

"You can have an all-season tire that handles very well on the ice and snow," says Roberson.  "Good tires with good tread helps to give you that edge that you need on the highway, to get that performance you need on the road.  If you put good tires on and you have good tread depths you have no problems gripping on ice and snow."

The roads aren't the only thing you're going to want to watch out for when the temperatures are as cold as they are now.  You're also going to want to keep your body temperature above 96 degrees to prevent hypothermia.

"This time of year when you get into these temperatures that is a common problem that can occur because people don't think to dress warm enough when they go outside," says Joanna Hughes, the Outreach Services Manager for Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.

Her advice?  Stay warm by wearing a scarf and gloves, and keep an emergency kit in your car just in case you need it.

"You always should have your car prepared, have a winter emergency kit in there, you know, an extra blanket, extra gloves, anything that can keep you warm in the event you do run off the side of the road and you can't get out and you've got to wait on help," says Hughes.

Over the past weekend Via Christi Hospital treated three patients for ice related road accidents and one for slipping and falling on the ice.

Hughes suggests keeping things like non-perishable foods as well as a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade in your car.

All the help keeps you warm and safe if you were to get stuck in the weather.