Office of Emergency ManagementOffice of Emergency Management

Galveston County

 

Holiday & Cold Weather Tips

Holiday Safety Tips – Package Theft and Shopping

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) reminds last-minute holiday shoppers to keep safety in mind as they hunt for those last-minute bargains.

Shopping in Stores

  • Do not buy more than you can carry.  Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
  • Save all receipts.  Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases.   Start a file folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.
  • Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multiuse disposable credit cards or money orders, at online stores and auction sites.
  • Wait until asked before taking out your credit card or checkbook.  An enterprising thief would love to shoulder surf to get your account information.
  • Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package.  The same applies if you are using mass transit.

Shopping Online

  • Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone’s computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed. Visit www.bytecrime.org for free software downloads.
  • Keep your personal information private and your password secure. Do not respond to requests to “verify” your password or credit card information unless you initiated the contact. Legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.
  • Beware of “bargains” from companies with whom you are unfamiliar—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
  • Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.
  • Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company.

Walking to and From Your Car

  • Deter pickpockets.  Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
  • Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
  • Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.

Shopping with Small Children

  • If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other. Select a central meeting place.
  • Teach them to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.

Holiday Safety Tips – Decorate Safely

 

This weekend is a popular time to begin putting up Christmas decorations, leading to roughly 15,000 ER visits related to holiday decorating. Keep these safety tips in mind while decorating your home this year.

 

 

Decoration Safety Tips

Decorating is one of the best ways to get in a holiday mood, but emergency rooms see thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every season.

When decorating follow these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

  • Keep potentially poisonous plants – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from children
  • If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant”
  • If using a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, remember to water it and remove it from your home when it is dry
  • Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways
  • Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them
  • Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights
  • Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections
  • Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket
  • Never nail, tack or stress wiring when hanging lights and keep plugs off the ground away from puddles and snow
  • Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house

Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips For Coping

Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.

More Info: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Driving On Black Ice Safety Tips

Driving on black ice may be one of the most dangerous aspects of winter

BE WARY OF BLACK ICE THROUGHOUT OUR AREA – TamaquaArea.comPrepare Yourself

You’ve probably experienced it before. You’re driving along at night, the road clear of snow and debris. Then all of a sudden, your vehicle starts sliding. You know immediately that you’ve fallen victim to driving on black ice.

What is black ice?
Black ice isn’t actually black. It’s regular ice that forms on road surfaces with the exception that it has fewer air bubbles, which makes it harder to spot. Instead of ice, it tends to look like innocuous wet spots on pavement. It commonly forms when the temperature of the ground reaches freezing while rain or sleet continues to fall. It also forms more often at night because the sun melts ice and snow, which then refreezes when the temperature drops. (Morning commutes become particularly treacherous with black ice.) Problem areas are around curves, at the bases of inclines, and anywhere else water collects on a roadway.
How to spot black ice
Spotting black ice is tricky because it looks like water. The best thing to do is to be aware of the weather conditions. If it’s below freezing or supposed to drop below freezing while you’re out driving, assume that every wet spot you see is a patch of black ice. That may seem like overkill, but you’d be surprised how many times that assumption will prevent a spin-out or worse. If your car has an external temperature display inside and reads 32 degrees or below, any wet spots you see are likely black ice.
How to avoid it
Driving on black ice is difficult to avoid. First, you have to keep your eyes open for it. (And you have to be lucky enough to spot it.) If you see a spot you think might be black ice, drive around it as long as it’s safe to do so. It’s also a good idea to know the places in your town or city that are particularly prone to black ice and to avoid them whenever you have to drive in freezing temperatures. Finally, keep your eyes open for skid marks or stranded motorists. There’s a good chance you’re not the first one to have found the black ice!

4 Tips For Staying Safe

Since you can’t always see or avoid black ice, the next best thing is to know how to stay safe when driving over it. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you find yourself driving on black ice this winter.

1. Go slow and steady
You’ll want to go slow and steady over patches of black ice. Unlike snow, which still offers a little traction for your tires, black ice is completely smooth, and your tires won’t stick at all. As a result, it can be difficult to stop if you’re going too fast. When you reach a patch of black ice, take your foot off the accelerator immediately.

Additionally, keeping a straight wheel is advisable since you should be able to coast safely over the ice. If you turn your wheel while driving on black ice, you’ll increase the likelihood of losing control of your vehicle. If you start to skid and have to turn, be sure to turn into the skid.

2. Avoid braking or pump brakes
Brakes can be your best friend in many driving emergencies, but not black ice skids. When you approach black ice, let off the brake before your tires make contact. If you’re going too fast and need to brake a little, pump the brakes to avoid going into a full-on skid. Don’t slam on the brakes under any circumstances—you’ll only make your situation worse by doing so.
3. Know how to handle a skid
One of the biggest mistakes drivers make when driving on black ice is overcorrecting a skid. This can compound the problem quickly by sending the car spinning in the other direction. Gently turn into the skid while pumping the brakes. As the skid breaks, return the steering wheel to normal. Once your tires get traction on the road again, you should find it easy to correct from there.
4. Watch the temperature
Most cars these days come with an external thermometer. Pay attention to the reading during the winter months, and if it drops to freezing (32 degrees F), expect that you’ll run into black ice somewhere. To be extra safe, use caution even when the reading is only near freezing as many car thermometers pick up heat readings from the engine, which can make it seem warmer outside than it actually is.