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The Huron Expositor, 1999-01-13, Page 5Don't panic if stuck in bad weather E$Q1MPage 4 to keep windows clear. • Methyl hydrate (antifreeze) for fuel lines and windshield} de-icing. • FlashligJit with extra batteries. • First-aid kit in case of injury. • Survival blanket and additional warm clothing such as mittens, hat and boots. • Non-perishable food such as energy bars. Optional items you may wish to keep in your vehicle include: fully -charged cellular phone with extra battery, extra clothing and footwear, standard tool kit, aerosol "flat tire" fixer, compass, dry -chemical fire extinguisher and non- perishable food. If you get tramped in a storm or snow bank: • Don't panic. Avoid over- exertion and exposure by staying in your car. Run your motor sparingly. • Open a window slightly to let in fresh air, but beware of exhaust fumes and the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. • Ensure the tailpipe is not blocked by snow. • Set out a warning light or flares. • Conserve battery energy by turning headlights off and using candles for heat and light. • Exercise your limbs. hands and feet vigorously. Keep moving and don't fall asleep. • Keep watch for traffic or searchers. People rush .to shovel driveways unprepared for the strain of not being in good condition Winter in Midwestern Ontario has settled in with a vast amount of snow and cold wind-chill temperatures. Most people rush out to shovdl their driveway and sidewalk unprepared. The strain of snow shovelling puts an increased demand on a person's heart. Just a few minutes of lifting and tossing snow can cause a dramatic increase in heart rate and blood pressure. In fact, the cardiac workout of shovelling is equivalent to running on a treadmill. "The problem is that many people spend the off-season as couch potatoes and their bodies aren't ready for the exertion required to shovel snow",says Josee Cayer, physical activity (Huron County Health Unit promoter at Huron County Health Unit. Two out of every three Canadians are risking their health and quality of life by not being active enough. The new Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living was recently released by Health Canada and offers guidelines on how to be healthier by making physical activity an important part of daily life. The activity guide gives examples of how much and how often adults need to be physically active to stay healthy. "People need to realize that they should maintain a certain level of activity all year long to be able to handle tasks like shovelling snow", Cayer says. Here are some tips to help prevent cardiac problems and back injury from cold weather activities like snow shovelling. • Maintain a regular physical activity program. People who are active on a regular basis will have less chance of injury. • Warm up before going outside. Do some gradual stretching and loosening up activities • Dress warmly. • Start shovelling slowly. • Bend your knees, not your waist, when lifting snow. Whenever possible, push or sweep snow rather than. lifting it. • Keep your back straight and use the strength in your legs and not in your back. Avoid inhaling cold air by wearing a scarf. • Wear boots- with treads to prevent slipping or falling. Take a break. When you're tired to reduce your risk of injury. • See your family physician if you experience any chest discomfort. To obtain a free copy of the new Physical Activity Guide, call, the Healthy Lifestyle Team, Huron County Health Unit at 482- 3416 or 1-800-265-5184 or you can get it on the Internet at www.paguide.±om. I often drive with my fingers crossed FROM Page 4 around safely once I had hit the open highway. There Was no way of knowing if the car had turned completely and the headlights of oncoming vehicles could only be seen when they were a few feet away. I used to love winter until the first season that I had my driver's licence. Suddenly, the snow just wasn't fun anymore. • Like I said, the road side assistance coverage has - pulled me out of parking lots, driveways and just about anywhere else it's possible to get- a car stuck. That first car of mihe would get stuck. in the parking lot at work in Kincardine because it was on a slight slope. If there was snow in the lot, I often had to be pushed out because it was just slide -on the grade. That car also almost Nit a parked police car when my reporting duties took me.to the Kincardine'detachment to get the OPP reports. The lot was covered in snow and when I was leaving, the car moved slightly as the gears changed from park to reverse. That was enough to start it in motion without having taken my foot off the brake or even so much as thinking about acceleration. I pumped the brakes and turned the wheel this way and that as it slowly slid toward the cruise. It stopped on its own inches before I would have had my first reportable accident. Despite my stupidity in driving when I shouldn't, I've never driven on a road closed by the weather (or for any other reason) and I've never been seen skidding through an intersection because I was driving too fast for the slippery road conditions. I have just enough High school's new year starts off with • ►w day By talking to some of the students in the school they really enjoyed one more day of Christmas break. Dean' Price got up really early on Monday morning to find out that therewas no school but surprisingly he did not go back to bed. "It was really nice to get up that early in the morning," Dean said. Stephanie Dale said that it was really nice to have one more day to her holidays but she still got up at her regular time because no one knew if the school would be closed. She also said that it was a really good idea that they did not have the buses running because of the road conditions. Tracy Jessome What a way to start off are to report to the closest your New 'Year but to school if it is safe to do have a snow day on your so. first day back to school! The school policies On Jan. 4, many of the regarding school bus secondary' and elementary cancellations and school schools in the Avon- closure are that if the Maitland School district buses are not running and were closed becaase of the roads are closed, then the bad weather that the school will probably started on Jan. 2. be closed as well. The roads were icy and "That is not always the -�it was cold and really case," said Ms. Hazzard, snowy outside. It would the school's vice have been a really good principal. Principal, idea to stay in your house Bruce .Eccles and 'the bus for thc day.' company, after looking at Scaforth District High the highway conditions, School was not one of the are the people who decide schools' that was whetheror not the 'officially' closed but the students will go home or buses were not running to a friends or a and some of the teachers grandparent's house for could not even make it to the rest of the day if the Scaforth. On days like school closes half way this, if possible. thc staff through the day. Christmas Seal Campaign supports vital medical research across Ontario To the Editor: Funds raised from the 1998 Christmas Seal Campaign support vital medical research across the province as well as the many health education programs offered right here in Huron and Pcrth Counties, such as Breathe Easy and the Air Force Family Asthma Program. As someone living successfully with a rather rare lung disease, I can attest to the support I received from The Lung Association when first diagnosed with my condition and to the value of their programs which have helped me learn more about living with lung disease. As well, my case has .een use• in research for a study conducted, by doctors at the University of Western Ontario. I appreciate "the importance of research projects supported by The Lung Association. Canadians have a long tradition of supporting The Lung Association. Together we successfully battled tuberculosis, once the number one killer of Canadians. Today we must work together to fight all lung disease. Every 20 minutes, each day, another Canadian dies from some form of respiratory disease, the third leading cause of death in this country. Although we are still short of our financial goal for the Christmas Seal Campaign, we are optimistic that we will reach our• target because of the people in Perth and Huron Counties have generously supported this campaign for many years. Together we can help the one in five Canadians with some type of respiratory problem breathe a little more easily. Trish MacGregor, Volunteer Chairperson The Lung Association, Huron•Perth Counties common sense and always hope that the other drivers that have foolishly followed me onto the road, share that same sense and aren't going to come sliding into my lane. I often drive with my gut clenched and my fingers crossed. PIANO TUNING REPAIRS • REBUILDING • KEYS RECOVERED • DAMPP CHASERS • REGULATING • BENCHES BRUCE PULSIFER 348.9223 %nrc nrr.r. Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Exeter, Ontario NOM ISI (Established in 1876) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications Are Welcomed DIRECTORS 8 ADJUSTORS Joe Cha9e, R R 5 kindle' 348-9705 Ron Feeney. R R. 2 Gtin 345-2360 Larry Gardner, R R. 2 Statta Jack tlodgert, R.R. 11Or1eon Michael O'Shea, R.R. 3 Granton Moms Marrs, R R 2 St Paws AGENTS Wayne Maver. Exeter WW1 Moon, Otte Baro Warden, Dubin Joseph Unlace. ANchel Head Office. Exeter 345-2678 ?29-6152 225-2600 393-6548 235-1915 345-2512 345-2777 348-9012 2354356 A refund from surplus was declared for ell policy hold- ers who qualify, are on record and in good standing as at December 31, 1998. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 13, 1999-5 GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. 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