Surviving Cold Weather: Simply Survival (Greg Davenport's Books for the Wilderness)
Product Description
The first in "Greg Davenport's Books for the Wilderness" series,
"Surviving Cold Weather" covers the techniques and equipment necessary
for surviving in ice and snow. Photos and drawings illustrate gear and
techniques. The book covers the five survival essentials--personal
protection, signaling, sustenance, navigation, and health--as they
relate to the cold. Topics include: how to dress for winter; how to
create a campsite and what to use as shelter; how to keep warm; how to
signal for help with aerial flares, smoke, mirrors, and whistles;
finding and purifying water; finding and preparing food; protecting
yourself and your supplies from wildlife; how to use a map and compass;
how to travel on snow and ice with snowshoes, skis, and crampons; and
how to avoid and deal with avalanches. Upcoming books in the series are
"Surviving Open and Coastal Waters," "Surviving the Desert," and
"Surviving the Jungle."
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(Family Features) - Winter weather poses unique challenges for
drivers. Before heading out onto snowy or icy streets, take a few
minutes to refresh your memory on how to drive safely in wintery
conditions.
Before Leaving
Make sure the gas tank is at least half full and the windshield
washer fluid reservoir is full. Clear as much snow off of the car as
you can, including the roof, headlamps and taillights. Scrape ice off
of windows and side mirrors for maximum visibility.
Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
If
you are going to drive a long distance, find out what kind of weather
to expect. Visit the National Weather Service website at weather.gov to check the forecast.
On the Road
Slow down. Tires lose their grip in slippery conditions, so
accelerating, stopping and turning all take longer on snow-covered
roads. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly. AAA recommends
that the normal following distance of three to four seconds be
increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will
provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
Accelerating
slowly reduces wheel spin. If you're starting from a standstill on ice
or slick snow, start in second gear if you have a manual transmission.
Some automatic transmissions have a winter mode that automatically
starts in a higher gear.
Don't lock the wheels when braking.
This can make the vehicle slide or skid. If your vehicle has an
antilock braking system (ABS), depress the brake pedal firmly and hold
it down. Do not pump the brakes. ABS usually send a vibration through
the brake pedal - if you feel this, don't let up, it's normal.
Do
one thing at a time. Consumer Reports says that asking a vehicle to do
two things at once - such as braking and turning, or accelerating and
turning - can reduce your control. When taking a turn, slowly apply
brakes while the vehicle is going straight. When it's at the right
speed to take the turn, let up on the brakes and smoothly turn the
steering wheel. After you're through the turn, slowly depress the
accelerator to regain speed.
Correct for a slide. If the rear
of the vehicle begins to slide during a turn, gently let up on the
accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide
to straighten out. If the front end begins to slide, let up on the
accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go.
Pay extra attention to other drivers - they may not be driving as cautiously as you.
