Holiday travel tips from Sanford Lab's ESH Department

The holidays are inching nearer, and Sanford Lab employees are packing up their bags to brave the South Dakota weather to celebrate with friends and family. Our Environment, Safety and Health Department reminds drivers to prepare their vehicles, drive carefully and respect others on the road during holiday traveling.

In addition to the following tips, the ESH department has created a display to demonstrate what should be included in roadside safety kits. You can see a display in the Administration Building’s entryway and see if your roadside safety kit measures up! 

Before you go:
•    Get your car serviced: Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and other routine maintenance. Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for leaks; badly worn hoses; or other needed parts, repairs and replacements.
•    Go over your vehicle safety checklist: Ensure your car battery, lights, cooling system, tires, wiper fluid and defrosters are in working order before setting out. 
•    Check for roadside assistance: Check your automobile insurance to see if it includes roadside assistance. If so, keep the number for roadside assistance in your car.
•    Prepare a winter car kit: Make sure you have a first aid kit, additional warm clothing and equipment to help you should you become stranded. Check out the attached graphic and ESH’s display for a complete list!
•    Know the conditions: Call 511 for South Dakota road conditions or download the #SDDOT511 app for Android and iOS. For road conditions across the United States, visit www.SafeTravelUSA.com. 

On the road:
•    Keep your gas tank close to full: Even with a hybrid-electric vehicle, if you get stuck in a traffic jam or in snow, you might need more fuel than you anticipated to get home or to keep warm.
•    Plan Ahead: On longer trips, plan enough time to stop to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy.
•    Avoid risky driving behaviors: Do not text or engage in any activities that may distract you while driving. Obey all posted speed limits, but drive even slower if necessary for weather conditions. As always, act responsibly and drive sober. 
•    Drive slowly: It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface. On the road, increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you. Know whether your vehicle has an antilock brake system and learn how to use it properly. Antilock brake systems prevent your wheels from locking up during braking. 
•    Don’t crowd a snow plow or travel beside it: When you are driving behind a snow plow, don’t follow or stop too closely. The road behind an active snow plow is safer to drive on. If you find yourself behind a snow plow, stay behind it or use caution when passing. 

In an emergency:
If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, follow these safety rules: 
•    Stay with your car and don’t overexert yourself. 
•    Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light turned on. 
•    To avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning, don’t run your car for long periods of time with the windows up or in an enclosed space. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically—just long enough to stay warm.

The Environmental, Safety and Health, and Quality Assurance Department at Sanford Underground Research Facility promotes health and safety in the workplace, as well as healthy living and wellness for all employees. If you have questions about health and wellness, please contact our occupational health nurse, Laura Baatz, who is onsite daily at lbaatz@sanfordlab.org.