On a Frosty Day

Winter Safety

An article relating to the Safety Member Certification training module "Storms and Disasters" and the Church Security Guide article "Natural Disasters and How to Prepare Your Church."[1][2][3]

From the Bible

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

"By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened" (Job 37:10).

Introduction: Winter as Beauty and Beast

In northern states and in mountainous areas, Winter is both the Beauty and the Beast.

• Feathery leaves of frost on a window, snow on trees and bushes, streams between snowy banks, icicles hanging from an eve, and moonlight on the white ground are beautifully picturesque.
• The same scene of ice and snow can also be a beast, with slick driving and walking surfaces, avalanches (even from roofs), extra weight on roofs, problems with melting snow, and low-temperature threats to health and property.

While enjoying Winter's beauty, we also need to take measures to ensure our safety and that of others in the church and at church-related activities.

In the News

Breckenridge, Colorado, March 18, 2024 - Heavy snow accumulated on a house roof then slid off in what is called a "roof avalanche." Two teenage boys were playing outside. The snow buried them. One of them was seriously injured. The previous year, a father and two children were buried by a roof avalanche not far from Durango, and one child died.[4]

Richmond, New Hampshire, January 5, 2024 - A man riding a motorcycle tried to drive through a 3-foot deep iced-over creek. The cycle became mired and the cyclist fell off. He was trapped in the ice for a while under the cycle. Finally getting out, he called for help. He had a shoulder injury and hypothermia.[5]

Wisconsin, January 2019 - During extreme cold with wind chills as low as minus 40, several persons were taken to hospitals with hypothermia and frostbite. Other patients were suffering from chest pains and breathing difficulties. There were also two fatalities.[6]

Mercer County, New Jersey, September 30, 2021 - A woman slipped and fell on ice in the parking lot of a Mercer County business. She had to have several surgeries following the fall. She sued the company for over a million dollars. The case was settled in January 2022 for over a million dollars.[7]

Emmet County, Michigan, New Year's Eve, 2016 - About 11 PM on New Year's Eve, a man in pajamas dashed outside to get another piece of wood for the fireplace. His slippers slipped, and down he went. His neck was broken, so he couldn't get up.

He screamed for help. Neighbors in their houses didn't hear him, since the nearest one was a quarter mile away, but his golden retriever did. She came right away and lay down on him. Then she barked and barked. No one came, so she continued barking. After a while, the man couldn't scream any more, but the dog kept on barking. She also licked his face.

Finally a neighbor who stepped outside heard the dog and came to see what happened. He found the man, who had become unconscious, and called 911. Medics came and took him to the hospital. Besides the broken neck, he had hypothermia. If it hadn't been for the dog lying on him and licking his face, he would have frozen to death.[8]

Near North Bend, Washington, October 27, 2023 - An SUV on I-90 during near-freezing temperatures hit a patch of ice and skidded into the median, rolling over. It stopped at a guardrail. The driver was fortunate to have only minor injuries. The responding State Trooper posted a warning to watch for ice during low temperatures. Ice could form on roadways, especially on bridges and overpasses.[9]

Precautions for Winter

The icy incidents in the news stories above did not occur on church properties or during church-related activities, but they just as well could have. Similar cases have happened, but didn't show up on a news search. By seeing what happened and how, we can discern how to prevent these from happening and how to respond if they do. Let's address several hazards.

Snow on Roof

Snow on the roof poses at least three potential hazards: collapse, leaks, and roof avalanche.

Collapse

Too much heavy snow can cause a roof to collapse. Church roofs have fallen in under snow. Good roof design and structure and clearing excess snow are two precautions to take.

Manually remove the snow. When a lot of snow is falling or has fallen, have someone remove the snow. It may be shoveled off a flat or nearly flat roof. A snow rake can be used for a pitched roof if the eaves are low enough. That's hard enough when people are there already. Better is an installed means of removing snow.

Melt the snow. Modern insulation not only keeps the building warmer, it keeps snow on the roof from melting. A pitched roof allows snow to slide off, or at least away from the center, especially on metal roofs. Heating coils in the roof can melt snow enough to make it slide. These only have to be turned on for a short time on a pitched roof. The time is longer on a flat roof because the snow needs to melt enough to go down the roof drains.

Leaks

Mostly on flat roofs, but sometimes on pitched ones, melting snow can leak into the building. If it finds its way to a walking area, this will be a safety hazard. Retained moisture from a leak can also damage materials and promote mold growth. Mold can be a health hazard.

Many times the leaking starts at the flashing or a roof valley. When the weather is dry, check the flashings and roof valleys for potential leaks and make sure they're sealed.

Avalanches

A roof avalanche sounds like something from a nightmare or a horror show, but it is a real threat if the snow will hit a place where people are likely to be. Snow guards are specifically designed to prevent avalanches. They will hold back snow and/or break it up into smaller, safer amounts.[10]

Ice on Water and Thin Ice

Many persons are injured, and some are drowned, from breaking through ice on water. The water can be a flowing stream, a pond, or a lake. The motorcyclist in New Hampshire found out the hard way that this is hazardous. On the church grounds, we need to keep people off thin ice over any water on church property. This can be by signs, fencing, or barriers. Some small ponds can be drained for the winter or have water shallow enough to freeze through, making a skating rink. In that case, the pond will be a hazard for walking and should be marked as such.

Slick Walking Lanes and Parking Lots

Churches can face insurance claims and lawsuits when people are injured by slipping on icy surfaces and falling. In fact, there are several online sites with advice on how to sue businesses, churches, and other organizations for personal injuries. Many injuries are from slick surfaces.

Measures can be taken to reduce the risk of slipping. After a snowfall, have the parking lot plowed and walkways shoveled. Vehicle tires and shoes can bring in more snow and pack it down. Therefore, we need to spread sand and/or salt to give traction and melt the ice. There are salt formulas specially made for ice.

Installing handrails along outdoor walkways, especially on slopes, can help people walk in winter weather. They need to be sturdy enough for the times many people use them at once.

Driving Hazards

Not all winter hazards for the church are on the church's campus. Public roads can be a hazard in winter weather. Vehicles the church uses need to be properly maintained. This includes winter tires with enough traction. Two items often overlooked are emergency exits and safety belts.

Drivers need to know how to handle the vehicle in winter. Passenger vans and busses handle differently from sedans and pickup trucks. A bus driver should have a CDL with passenger endorsement.

If there is an accident, the church may be liable for injuries and property damage. In the severe winter weather, it is wiser to cancel or postpone an event or trip than to take the greater risk.

Heating Hazards

Space heaters are often used for buildings that do not have adequate heating systems. During extreme cold, they are often used to heat an area more quickly. There are a number of hazards associated with space heaters.

Heating combustibles - Space heaters come with warnings to keep them a safe distance from combustible materials - usually two to three feet, maybe four - to reduce the risk of igniting a fire.

Carbon monoxide - Any heater that burns fuel may release carbon monoxide (CO). This odorless, colorless gas is the result of incomplete burning. If there is too little oxygen, CO will be produced instead of harmless CO₂. Combustion heaters will also deplete oxygen if used inside. These heaters should be used only near an open door or window, not indoors if that can be avoided.

Explosion - Some heaters have the hazard of an explosion, especially if using propane or natural gas. This can also be a hazard of gas furnaces. All furnaces should be serviced in the summer before they'll be used for cold weather heating.

Health Hazards

When we mention cold weather health hazards, the first ones that usually come to mind are hypothermia and frostbite. A third one is heart attacks triggered by exertion in cold weather, especially shoveling wet snow. Another one is labored breathing in persons with asthma, emphysema, and other breathing impairments.

Try to prevent hypothermia and frostbite during outdoor winter activities.

• Require adequate clothing, including footwear and gloves/mittens. Toes are especially vulnerable to frostbite. Also vulnerable are fingers, noses, and ears.
• Postpone or cancel outdoor activities in extreme cold. If caroling, do it indoors, such as at a nursing home or an assisted living facility, an indoor access apartment building, or where you are invited inside.
• For caroling or other activities with temperatures in the lower 20s or the teens (not extreme), limit the time outside.

Watch for signs of cold stress. Know how to treat hypothermia and frostbite and be equipped to do it. The American Red Cross has a page on identifying and treating hypothermia and frostbite. This page has links to other pages about winter safety. It also has the link to an emergency app.[11]

Also, be alert to indications of heart stress and breathing difficulty. Equipment should include thermal blankets and an AED.

A Shelter in the Storm

Sometimes a church can be a shelter during and after a winter storm. That was the case in Buffalo, New York, on Christmas 2022. A winter storm buried the city and the surrounding county in snow, bringing everything to a standstill.

One church was prepared for a major family reunion on Christmas. This was canceled because of the coming blizzard, so all the supplies for food and sanitation were on hand. So also were blankets and cots for those who would be staying for a few days.

The pastor and his wife were at the church when the blizzard blew in and dropped mountains of snow. Looking outside after the wind had passed, they saw people whose cars had been stranded and brought them in. Then they let others know that they still had power and heat - food also. They fed and housed 154 people.

It was a God-sent coincidence that they had the resources and also had power and heat to shelter that many persons in the time of need. Churches can plan to be ready for sheltering instead of waiting until there's an emergency.

Resources

Winter safety is a topic in the Safety Member Certification training module "Storms and Disasters" and the Church Security Guide article "Natural Disasters and How to Prepare Your Church." A free download, "Emergency Supply List Recommendations (Essential supplies to have on hand in a disaster or emergency event)," is also available. Click *HERE* to get it.[12]

Your church's insurance provider has tips and advice on keeping the flock safe in winter weather.

Conclusion

Winter is coming. Be certain your church is prepared to keep members and guests safe.

References

1. Kris, Moloney, "Storms and Disasters," Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, 2018 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/bundles/safety-member-certification].
2. Kris Moloney, Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security Sentinel [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide].
3. Kris Moloney, "Natural Disasters and How to Prepare Your Church," Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security Sentinel, 2021 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=preparing-your-church-for-natural-disasters].
4. Bruce Finley, "‘Roof avalanche' buries two teens in Breckenridge, leaving one seriously injured," The Denver Post, Updated March 20, 2024 [https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/20/roof-avalanche-teens-buried-breckenridge-injured/].
5. Staff Report, "Winchester motorcyclist suffers hypothermia after fall into Richmond brook," New Hampshire Union Leader, January 7, 2024, Updated January 28, 2024 [https://www.unionleader.com/news/safety/winchester-motorcyclist-suffers-hypothermia-after-fall-into-richmond-brook/article_fb694108-ad7c-11ee-af87-7fc2bfccfd37.html].
6. Tess Klein, "Frostbite, cold weather cases reported at Wisconsin hospitals," WTMJ-TV (TMJ4), Posted January 30, 2019 [https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/frostbite-cold-weather-cases-reported-at-wisconsin-hospitals].
7. Charles Toutant, "Woman Injured in Icy Parking Lot Fall Gets $1 Million in Mercer County," New Jersey Law Journal, January 14, 2022 [https://www.law.com/njlawjournal/2022/01/14/woman-injured-in-icy-parking-lot-fall-gets-1-million-in-mercer-county/?slreturn=20241024-21744].
8. Jennifer Earl, "Dog saves injured Michigan man from freezing to death in the snow," CBS News, January 11, 2017 [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-keeps-injured-owner-from-freezing-to-death-in-the-snow/].
9. KIRO 7 News Staff and Trooper Rick Johnson, "‘Please, please slow down': Rollover crash shows danger of icy roads," KIRO7-TV, October 27, 2023 [https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/please-please-slow-down-rollover-crash-shows-danger-icy-roads/7JELZ7YSOFGQHPGOQGZEBAVDLU/].
10. ASM Staff, "Snow Guards for Metal Roof: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Roof and Property," American Snow Magazine, July 21, 2023 [https://www.americansnowmagazine.com/post/snow-guards-for-metal-roof].
11. Staff, "How to Identify and Treat Hypothermia and Frostbite," The American Red Cross, date not stated [https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/hypothermia-and-frostbite.html].
12. Kris Moloney, "Emergency Supply List Recommendations (Essential supplies to have on hand in a disaster or emergency event)," Sheepdog Church Security, © 2019 [https://sheepdog-church-security.ck.page/a0c3582831].