Do-Do-Da-Do

Cyberpunk Katara

gotta be somewhere at 8? start your car at 7:45, crank the defrost and heat up

don’t have winter boots? that’s fine! layer up some socks for warmth and try to walk on any dirt/grass to avoid ice. if you can’t avoid ice patches, keep your weight balanced on your foot (press down carefully and with your whole foot)

layers. start with a tank top, then a shirt, then a sweater, then a jacket, then another jacket!! hoods are your friend, keep your ears warm. jeans are terrible for holding warmth so wear leggings under jeans

open your cabinets under your sinks so your pipes don’t freeze

close your blinds as best you can/put saran wrap over your windows and the seals to cover any leaks and keep in the heat

when driving, reduce your speed by at least 5 mph, maybe 10 if it’s especially icy

if you find yourself spinning out, let go of the wheel and let off the breaks. don’t try to course correct!! you can pump the breaks a bit but try to let the car come to a stop naturally

bring your pets inside! also check your car wheels before leaving in the morning as stray cats can and will sleep there for warmth/shelter

slip dangers: visible ice of course, but also places where snow has been compressed by other walkers or car tires, “wet” pavement (may be black ice). take very small steps, keep your center of gravity over your feet.

road salt / rock salt / grit: your area may or may not have this. most of it is literally sodium chloride salt, sometimes it’s chemically treated or mixed with sand or gravel for traction. salt lowers the freezing point of water, and rocks provide extra traction. a lot of plow trucks spread it behind them as they plow, but people can also get it at hardware and auto supply stores for your private sidewalk/driveway/etc.

most forms of road salt stop working if the temperature gets down below 20F or so. it will still provide some traction, but will not melt ice.

some forms of road salt can burn animals’ paws, or make them sick if they ingest it. walk your dog carefully and clean their paws thoroughly when you get home.

animal fibers > plant and most synthetic fibers. if you own any clothes with wool content, wear them. that too-hot scratchy wool blanket you never use? put it over another blanket to stay toasty warm.

if your clothes get wet with water or snow, get inside and change as soon as possible.

avoid walking on smooth surfaces if possible; textured surfaces are less likely to be slick with ice (the above dirt, grass, fluffy snow are good standbys)

if you must walk on ice, go slowly and bend your knees. shimmy a little as you walk.

black ice glistens in the light so if you see any pavement shining, don’t walk on it. it’s okay to be looking at the ground as you walk. don’t go out at night, but if you have to, you can shine a flashlight in front of you to check for ice.

Additionally:

if you have piercings, take them out or cover them. ears, noses, and lips are already prone to frostbite and having cold metal in your body is painful and overall makes things worse

if you don’t have snow boots, work boots can be a good substitute if they won’t hold in moisture. anything with a tread is better than nothing.

if you have access to somewhere with power, start charging external batteries now so you have them in case of emergencies.

-always assume there’s ice on the roads, even if you can’t see it.

- don’t assume other people will have control of their vehicle, always have a plan incase the other car slips

- if you are outside for a while, take a warm bath or drink something warm, it’ll help you warm up quicker and relax from being so tense

we'll always be together, don't you worry