SNOW: 'Avoid travel unless crucial' (From Herald Series)

SNOW: 'Avoid travel unless crucial'

5:11pm Monday 21st December 2009

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MOTORISTS have been warned to avoid travelling tonight if possible as heavy snowfall begins to hit the county.

The Met Office urged people across Oxfordshire to “be prepared” as it issued a severe weather warning for the county.

It is advising people not to take any journeys unless absolutely necessary as roads across the region could become “treacherous” as snow storms hit Oxfordshire and temperatures plummet.

For those who have to drive, the Met Office recommends: • Taking warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and letting someone know when you expect to arrive and your route.

• Try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling.

• Take care around gritters. Don't be tempted to overtake.

• Slow down — it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room.

• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid braking.

• If braking is necessary, pump the brakes, don’t slam them on. If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured to your aerial.

• If you go outside wear several layers of clothing and keep dry to prevent loss of body heat.

It also advised othe people

• Put grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping on compacted snow.

• Check on vulnerable neighbours.

• Watch out for signs of hypothermia — uncontrollable shivering, slow/slurred speech, memory lapse and drowsiness and frostbite, loss of feeling in and pale appearance of fingers, toes, nose and ear lobes.

• Keep moving your arms and legs to help the blood circulate.

• Be careful when walking or driving on compacted snow — it may have turned to ice.

• And take care when shovelling snow. Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body and can be the cause of heart attacks in the vulnerable.

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