The first snowfall of the year is predicted for this Friday November 18, after 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. After last year’s harsh winter, Bellingham residents are gearing up early this year in anticipation. To stay safe this season, keep these winter safety tips in mind.[i]
- If you plan on using your fireplace this winter, be sure to get your chimney inspected. Inspection by a professional chimney sweep can prevent heat leaking, carbon-monoxide accumulation and even fire and explosion.
- Pay attention to where ice accumulates on your home. Heat escaping from the roof melts snow to can create a great deal of icicles along the roofline. More icicles means that more heat is being wasted due to poor insulation in the attic.
- Be wary while shoveling the driveway. The Journal of the American Medical Association found in a 1995 study that “the cardiovascular exertion of shoveling snow was equivalent to maximal effort on a treadmill for sedentary men”. Experts warn snow-shovelers to start out slowly to avoid overexertion.
- Puget neighborhood residents should be aware of drainage issues in t0068eir neighborhood, melting ice and snow can lead to small floods, especially in areas where drainage is poor. For more information about problem areas in Puget check out the Neighborhood Plan here [PDF].
