Don Kelly, BCA Community Safety
According to the Farmer’s Almanac the winter of 2022-2023 in Ontario will be a time for us to shake, shiver, and shovel. We can expect freezing rain, wet snow, blowing snow, blizzard conditions and the beloved cold arctic temperatures! The BCA is urging our residents to prepare for these joyful times by taking some safety measures for your home and vehicle.
Your Home
Winter is the time when most house fires happen. We urge everyone to take precautions to mitigate your risks. Ensure the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are fully charged and they are in good working order. If you have a fireplace, consider having it cleaned and inspected before you start building those cozy fires. The Ottawa Fire Services website has more fire safety tips.
Ensure your furnace is ready for winter. Change your filter regularly and consider investing into an inspection with professional service. And before the cold check the caulking and replace any that is old, cracked or missing.
Frozen water pipes in winter can cause serious damage to your home, so before the cold weather settles in, shut off the water valve to your outside taps. Ensure the water is drained out of the lines.
Ensure you have salt, grit for the melting ice and sand for better traction on slippery stonework and driveways. Remember to get the salt recommended for your type of stonework.
Each year Ottawa residents are seriously hurt by climbing ladders to remove snow on their roofs. Consider using a professional roofer.
Your Vehicle
Winter provides booming business for garages and tow trucks because of the service calls for disabled vehicles. The battery that starts your vehicle in a second in the summer at 30C may be dead in -30C in the winter. And, if you notice streaks on the windshield after every swipe of your windshield wipers, it’s usually time to replace your blades with new ones. A winter vehicle check up may be the answer to having safe and reliable transport.
We know that all season tires perform very well most of the year. However, they are not ideal for sub-zero and icy conditions, as they tend to lose grip at temperatures below 7C. This is why you should consider having winter tires. Winter tires feature big blocky treads, which move water and slush more efficiently, and softer rubber that maintains flexibility in cold temperatures.
And remember to keep a winter emergency kit in your vehicle throughout the winter!