Category: Health and Safety

Even though last winter was mild in terms of precipitation, record snow fall over the winter of 2010/2011 brought a lot of grief to those who travel in the Sierras. One way you can get to your mountain destination safely is to plan your trip, know the conditions, and be prepared. The first step in being prepared is to make sure your vehicle is ready for the hard winter conditions ahead.

AAA recommends the following to help get ready for winter:

Winter Car Care Checklist

Battery and Charging System– Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. AAA members can request a visit from an AAA Mobile Battery Service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities can also test and replace weak batteries.

Battery Cables and Terminals– Check the condition of the battery cables and terminals. Make sure all connections are secure and remove any corrosion from the terminals and posts.

Drive Belts– Inspect belts for cracks or fraying. Don’t just look at the smooth top surface of the belt, but turn it over and check the grooved underside where most belt wear occurs.

Engine Hoses–Visually inspect the cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses to check for any that may be brittle or excessively spongy feeling and in need of replacement.

Tire Type and Tread– In areas with heavy winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter traction. All-season tires will work well in light to moderate snow conditions, providing they have adequate tread depth. If any tire has less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced. Uneven wear on the tires can indicate alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems that should be addressed to prevent further damage to the tires.

Tire Pressure– Check tire pressure more frequently during winter months. As the temperature drops, so will the pressures in the tires — typically 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver’s side door jamb. And, don’t forget to check the spare.

Air Filter– Check the engine’s air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.

Coolant Levels– Check the coolant level when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. The level of antifreeze protection can be checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store.

Lights– Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, emergency flashers, turn signals, brake lights and back-up lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs.

Wiper Blades – Blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe.
Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. In areas with snowy conditions, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup that can prevent good contact between the rubber blade and the glass.

Washer Fluid– Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components for cold weather use.

Brakes– Have brakes inspected by a certified technician to ensure all components are in good working order.

Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids– Check all fluids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels.

Emergency Road Kit – Update the car’s emergency kit for winter weather. The kit should include:
– Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats
– Snow shovel
– Snow brush
– Flashlight with extra batteries
– Window washer solvent
– Ice scraper
– Cloth or roll of paper towels
– Jumper cables
– Gloves, hats and blankets
– Warning devices (flares or triangles)
– Drinking water
– Non-perishable snacks (energy or granola bars)
– Extra clothes
– First-aid kit
– Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)
– Mobile phone and car charger with important numbers programmed in it, including a roadside assistance provider

It seems that various species of bats have been very prolific in the mountains this year. Several area HOAs, businesses, and homeowners have reported an increase in the number of these animals, with some being found dead or dying on their property.

If a bat, or other wild animal that normally would flee from you, allows you to get close enough to touch it, chances are that it may be sick or injured and care must be taken to avoid injury to you and others.

Handling or touching any wild animal is dangerous, not only because of the potential for a bad bite, but because it may be carrying, or infected with, any number of diseases that could potentially infect you or others who attempt to handle the animal and a sick or injured animal is much more likely to bite than one that’s not.

The purpose of this note is to let you know that several bats have been found in and around our community recently, with a few showing up dead near the Lilac Park pool. Calaveras County Animal Control came out to pick up one of the animals and it was tested for rabies, which it was confirmed to have. While in their natural habitat these bats pose no significant risk to people, care must be taken if you must handle any that may be found dead or dying on your property.

According to the CDC, the overall estimated number of bats infected with a disease like rabies is around 6%, however, you should treat ANY WILD ANIMAL you find as a potential carrier of this disease and avoid contact with it. Use a shovel to move and bury (at least 12″ deep) dead animals and wash your hands well with soap and water after moving one.

People can’t get rabies just from seeing a bat in an attic, in a cave, at camp, or from a distance while it is flying. In addition, people can’t get rabies from having contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or urine, or from touching a bat on its fur. But because of the risk of a bite, which can spread the disease, teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.

If you are bitten by a bat — or if infectious material (such as saliva or brain material if it is killed) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound — wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing.

Many people have serious misconceptions about bats. Myths that they are vicious and often attack people are abundant. The fact is that bats are actually quite harmless and are important indicators of a healthy environment. Because bats are sensitive to high pollution and pesticide levels, they are useful as a warning sign to potential environmental problems. Bats can also be important weapons in combating insects that are actually dangerous to humans.

With the increased media coverage of deaths caused by the West Nile Virus, many people are looking for effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease. As most of us are aware, the West Nile Virus is primarily spread through mosquitoes. Mosquitoes make up a significant portion of a bat’s diet. A small bat can capture more than 1,200 mosquitoes in a single hour!

Bats cannot contract the West Nile Virus by eating infected mosquitoes. Besides mosquitoes, bats can help control the populations of beetles, moths, and leafhoppers. Many insects can hear bats up to 100 feet away and will avoid those areas occupied by bats. The effectiveness of bats in some areas diminishes the need for pesticides that can harm both the pests and their natural predators.

The point is, use care if you come across ANY sick or injured animal on your property and take appropriate precautions, but if you happen to see a bat hunting bugs as the sun goes down, know that they are helping to rid the area of other pests.

For more information about bats and rabies, click HERE.

Ok we admit: this is late in the season and there isn’t a lot of snow on the ground right now. But there are a series of storms moving in this week and being prepared for winter driving conditions in the mountains can save you a lot of time and trouble. It can even save your life. Be prepared.

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued.
  Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Carbon Monoxide kills.
  Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Check your tires, check your car.
  Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Check your antifreeze level. Make sure your washer fluid is made for cold weather.
• Use common sense.
  Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Steer into a slide.
  If your steering wheel is turning but your car isn’t, you’re in a slide. Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Buckle up.
  Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
  Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly.  Speed limit is 25mph on snow and ice.
  Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• Increase following distance.
  The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds or more. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes.
  Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it.
  There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling, especially on hills.
• Don’t power up hills.
  Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill.
  There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home.
  If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.
• Carry chains, even with 4wd.
  Even though your chances of using them are small, chains can save you. 4wd and Awd units can and do fail. Many people don’t think about servicing their 4wd power train. Don’t get stuck.
• Make up a Winter Driving Kit
  Plastic carry-all totes are inexpensive and can hold just about everything you need. If you frequently drive in winter conditions, consider the following for your kit:
  1. Some sand in a large coffee or paint can
  2. A tow strap
  3. Jumper cables
  4. A bright flashlight / Road flares
  5. Sturdy gloves / Rain & snow suit
  6. Camp shovel
  7. Ice scraper / De-icing  fluid /Squee-Gee
  8. First Aid Kit / Emergency blanket
  9. Chains and snubbers

Driving with chains. What you should know.