Winter Travel Advice

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Use caution traveling to and from campus. We recognize that not everyone will be able to travel to campus in inclement weather.

General Precautions

  • Avoid overexertion. The strain from the cold and the hard labor of walking through drifts, pushing a car, or shoveling heavy snow may cause a heart attack.
  • Be alert for frost bite. In sub-freezing temperatures, it can happen very quickly. Your ears, nose, cheeks and fingers are all very susceptible to cold and harsh winds. Cover up!
  • Overheating is as dangerous as getting too cold. Sweating from improper clothing or overexertion can make clothing wet, causing it to lose its insulating properties, and increases the risk of hypothermia.
  • Hypothermia occurs when your core temperature falls below 95°F (35°C). Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion. Get medical attention immediately.

Dress Appropriately

  • Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you. Remove layers to avoid sweating and subsequent chill. Zippers allow you to easily open up a layer to prevent overheating.
  • Outer garments should be tightly woven, wind and water repellent, and hooded.
  • Wear a hat with ear protection because much of your body heat can be lost from your head, and ears get frost bitten easily.
  • Cover your mouth with a scarf and breathe through your nose to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
  • Mittens, snug at the wrist, are warmer than gloves.

Winter Driving

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  • Allow extra time for your trip and expect delays so you are not rushed.
  • Call 716-645-NEWS (716-645-6397) to learn about any campus weather notifications or closings, and be aware of all UB's emergency communication channels.
  • Be sure to include a brush and scraper in your car, and extra wiper fluid.
  • A shovel is especially handy if you frequently park on the street in case you get plowed in or stuck.
  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Managemnet Agency) also recommends keeping emergency supplies in your car (also your office or dorm). Suggestions include extra warm clothes and a blanket.

Campus Parking

  • When parking, try using a landmark, such as a sign, light pole or tree to gauge where the parking space is located if the lines are snow covered.
  • In most lots, you will notice orange delineators at the end of the rows to help you park in an orderly manner.
  • Be careful not to triple park. Triple parking (making three rows out of two) blocks the car in the middle row and may lead to the ticketing or towing of your vehicle.
  • To maintain emergency vehicle access, please make sure there is still room for a double travel lane beside your vehicle when it is parked at the end of a row. This will also assist snow removal equipment to keep the lot cleared.

Walking

  • Wear heavy shoes, or boots that are waterproof and have good traction.
  • When exiting or entering your vehicle, use the vehicle for support.
  • Keep your hands out of your pockets for better balance.
  • Take short steps or shuffle for stability.
  • Assume wet, dark areas on pavement are slippery, and beware loose snow covering ice.
  • Walk in designated walkways and be careful of vehicles, especially snow removal equipment.
  • Try to stay dry and out of the wind.

If you notice a walkway or building access with excessive snow cover, call University Facilities
at 716-645-2028.

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