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Winter is upon us and nothing brings a chill to the heart of desert dwellers as cold as the thought of winter. Let's take a look at some of the hazards associated with our severe winter weather. One of the greatest hazards, of course, is the danger of heart attack brought on by shovelling sunshine. The sunshine accumulation is expected to be greater this year than it has in the past because we just finished one of the hottest summers on record, and are still in the middle of a drought. So make sure you have the lightest possible sun shovel, and don't fill it too much. I know that you will be tempted to lift huge amounts so that you can get the job done faster, and that's where the danger lies. Take your time, and keep the load in the shovel at a level you can easily handle. While I'm speaking of sunshine accumulation, those of you with long driveways probably have a sun blower. Get it out, and take it in for a tune up. I know quite a few people who have neglected their blower, and it let them down on a really sunny day when they had to get out of their driveway but couldn't because there was too much sun accumulated, and their sun blower wouldn't start. So stay on the safe side and get your blower tuned. Another risk is the danger of slipping and falling on an over heated sun puddle. You have to watch where you're walking at all times. Keep your feet under you by taking small steps. Again, the danger comes from being in a hurry. I know that you will want to take larger steps to avoid being in the sun too long. Make every effort not to as the sun puddles become very slippery in the winter. Another pitfall many of us stumble into is delaying getting those sun tires put on the car. Driving on sun slicked streets with regular tires is one of the most foolish things a desert rat can do. Get down to your local tire center, and get your sun tires mounted. Remember that sun tires with sun studs are illegal, and you face a $1,000 fine for having them on your car. When you must drive in a sun storm, be sure you don't become sun blinded. Sun blindness is one of the major causes of accidents in the winter. Sun storms can hit with little or no warning, and last for days. Be sure to have your polarized Foster Grants handy at all times. When you have to travel great distances especially to the south or west of our home, make sure you have ample provisions in case a sun blizzard forces you off the road. Some handy items include sun block, a sun umbrella, and a change of clothes such as t-shirt and shorts. It's a good idea to have a hat to keep the blowing sun out of your hair and eyes. Sandals and bottles of water are good, too. Many people keep an emergency sun kit in their cars for just such an emergency. While on the open road, keep an eye out for the sun plows. One of the best ways to travel is to follow a sun plow as it opens the way before you. You'll run into much less accumulated sun and have a much smoother road to travel. But you must be careful not to follow too closely because it can get pretty messy back there. Often the sun plow will cause a sun spray that can accumulate rapidly on your windshield and cause sun blindness. Those of us who have lived in the desert for many years know the hazards we face every day when we venture out into the severe winter weather. The greatest danger of all comes from those transplanted north easterners who haven't learned how bad it can get here. They don't know how to drive on sun slicked streets, and when they walk carelessly through sun puddles, they can splash the more cautious desert veteran. When they slip and fall in a crowd, they pose a danger with their flailing arms and legs. They could easily hurt an innocent bystander. If you take the proper precautions, there's no reason you shouldn't have a safe winter despite all the dangers associated with the severe weather. |
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