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We’re in the midst of a deep freeze in the northeast, with wind chills below zero. These frigid temperatures can be dangerous for many reasons. Freezing temps can cause frostbite and hypothermia to those not properly protected from the weather. Icy driving conditions can wreak havoc on highways and cause auto accidents. Bursting pipes can cause damage to your home. As the temperature dips, carbon monoxide poisoning is also more common. Here are five tips to stay safe in freezing temps and better protect you and your family from the elements this winter.

  1. Dress warmly with layers

    Stay indoors during severe weather conditions if possible. If you do need to venture out, wear a hat, gloves and a scarf or mask to cover your face. Wear several layers to help insulate from the cold. Limit your time outside and be sure you stay warm and dry. Beware of slippery sidewalks and overexerting with too much shoveling. Your children may be drawn to the idea of playing in the snow, but keep them inside and warm.

  2. Protect your home

    Be sure your home is properly insulated and free of drafts. During extremely cold weather, pipes may freeze or burst. Keep your roof free of too much snow to prevent a potential collapse. Fires are quite common in the winter months, because of the use of fireplaces and methods of helping to heat your home. Never leave an open flame unattended and keep paper, trash and other flammable materials far from open flames.

  3. Beware of carbon monoxide

    Don’t run your generator inside your home. It should be outside and more than 20 feet away from windows and doors. This goes for any gas-powered engines. Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home. Don’t sleep in a room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater. Never leave your vehicle running to warm up in your garage, even if the garage door is open. It’s best to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to monitor the level of gas in the air. If you begin to feel nauseous or dizzy and suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get to fresh air and get help immediately.

  4. Prepare your vehicle for freezing temps

    Drive only if it’s absolutely necessary when the weather is bad. Be sure your car had enough gas, antifreeze wiper fluid and other fluids. Be sure your tires are in good condition. Keep a shovel and materials for traction in your trunk in case you get stuck. Keep a blanket, water and first aid kit in your vehicle as well. Be sure your cell phone is charged in case you get stuck and need to call for help. Finally, if you do need to set out during a storm, clean the snow from your car before leaving. It can be a hazard to other drivers as it blows off. Drive slowly and safely.

  5. Protect your pets

    If it’s too cold outside for you, it’s too cold for your pets too. Keep them inside. Take them out for very brief period to exercise and to relieve themselves. Animals can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite just like humans.

We hope you will follow these five tips to stay safe in freezing temps. Finally, if you have elderly neighbors, check on them to see if they need any help and to make sure they are safe and warm. Something as simple as a phone call or a quick visit can save the life of someone who does not have adequate heat or shelter from the cold. The injury attorneys at Distasio, Kowalski & Yelen want everyone to stay safe this winter.

Starting this week, Pennsylvania motorists must be aware of a new PA child safety seat law. Drivers must be sure that rear facing car seats are used for all children under the age of two. The measure officially becomes a new PA law on Friday, August 12. Parents are cautioned to follow the manufacturers height and weight requirements on their seats. Sometimes children will still be within the ranges, even if they are 2 or older.

Rear facing seats are said to lower the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% in infants and by 54% for toddlers. On average, three children were killed and 470 children injured every day in traffic crashes in 2013.

Pennsylvania is the fourth state to enact a rear-facing child safety seat law for young children. Similar laws have been passed in New Jersey, California and Oklahoma. Under the existing law, all children under 4 years of age must be restrained in an approved child passenger restraint system, and children between 4 and 8 years of age must be restrained in a booster seat. The new law requires children under age 2 to ride rear facing. The new regulations are based on 2011 recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Using an approved child safety seat correctly and according to the law is the best protection you can give your child. Be sure to use the correct type of car seat for your child’s age, height and weight. Child safety seats do save lives.

At Distasio & Kowalski, safety is our top concern.

Please take note of this new PA child safety seat law. If you or your child have been seriously injured in a car or truck accident, contact the injury lawyers at Distasio & Kowalski in Wilkes-Barre today at 570-970-5400 for a free consultation.

Tragedy struck in Michigan earlier this week when five bikers were killed in a fatal bike truck crash. The five bikers were killed and four others seriously injured when a pickup truck ran into the riding group. Each year, over two percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. are bicyclists, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA reported 726 bicyclist motor vehicle crash deaths in 2014.

In Pennsylvania in 2014, there were 19 bicycle crash deaths, up from 11 in the previous year, and nearly 1,300 injuries. 95% of the deaths occurred on state highways, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This is the time of year when bicyclists are most active in northeast Pennsylvania and seen often on roadways throughout the state. All motor vehicle drivers should be cautious around, and on the lookout for bikers when driving, especially on higher speed limit roads. One of the most frequent causes of serious injury to a bicyclist is getting hit by a car, and one of the most common causes of a car bike collision or a bike truck crash is a motor vehicle driver who does not yield.bike

A collision with a vehicle, such as a bike truck crash, is one of the greatest dangers faced by a cyclist. A passenger vehicle weighs a few thousand pounds and a truck even more, while a bike only weighs about 20 pounds. This leaves bikers very unprotected and in risk of serious injury when involved in a collision with a vehicle.

Ten Traffic Safety Tips for Bikers

  1. Always wear a helmet
  2. Wear bright or reflective clothing and always stay visible. If drivers can see you, they are less likely to hit you.
  3. Always ride in the same direction as traffic
  4. Stay alert and pay attention to the road and traffic around you. Slow down and stay alert when passing driveways, alleys and other crossing roadways. Do not get distracted.
  5. Follow the law and all traffic signs and signals.
  6. Use proper hand signals to alert drivers as to what you are doing.
  7. Be predictable to vehicles around you. Do not weave in and out of traffic.
  8. Be sure your bike is in proper working order.
  9. Be sure to look both ways before crossing any street, and never assume a vehicle is going to stop for you.
  10. Be sure to have a headlight and adequate reflective materials when riding at night.

If you’ve been seriously injured in a bicycle traffic accident, contact the injury lawyers at Distasio & Kowalski in Wilkes-Barre today at 570-970-5400 for a free consultation. Your safety is our top priority.