Dust storms can drop visibility to near zero in seconds and trigger deadly chain-reaction crashes. National Weather Service and Arizona Department of Transportation guidance on Pull Aside, Stay Alive, Dust Storm Warnings and Blowing Dust Advisories, haboobs, what to do if you are driving, staying safe at home, air quality, Valley fever and building a car kit for dusty regions.
The first few minutes after a burn shape how well it heals. American Red Cross, American Burn Association and Mayo Clinic guidance on cooling a burn with running water, covering it, the myths to avoid like ice and butter, how to tell burn depth, the rule of palm, chemical and electrical burns, when to call 911, and how to prevent scalds and kitchen burns at home.
Choking can block the airway in seconds. American Red Cross and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on recognizing choking, the five back blows and five abdominal thrusts method for adults and children, back blows and chest thrusts for infants, helping a pregnant or larger person, what to do if you are alone, when to start CPR and how to prevent choking at home.
In a radiation emergency, the safest move is usually to get inside a sturdy building and stay there. Ready.gov, CDC and NRC guidance on where to shelter in an apartment or office, how long to stay inside, decontaminating yourself if you were outside, potassium iodide, food and water, pets, kids at school, and how nuclear plant emergency planning zones work.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can look similar, but heat stroke is a medical emergency. CDC guidance on the warning signs of each, first aid steps, when to call 911, heat cramps, who is most at risk in a city heat wave, and how to use National Weather Service HeatRisk forecasts and cooling centers to stay safe.
Working smoke alarms give you the minutes you need to get out of a home fire. NFPA and U.S. Fire Administration guidance on smoke alarm placement in apartments and houses, ionization vs photoelectric alarms, interconnection, monthly testing, battery and 10-year replacement rules, nuisance alarms, options for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and what renters should expect from landlords.
A frozen pipe can split and flood a home or the apartment below within hours of thawing. How to prevent frozen pipes before a cold snap, which pipes are most at risk, how to thaw a frozen pipe safely without open flames, and what to do right away if a pipe bursts, including shutting off water, calling your landlord and documenting damage.
Space heaters keep many apartments livable in a cold snap, and they are also a common cause of winter home fires. Space heater safety rules from the NFPA, CPSC and U.S. Fire Administration: the 3-foot rule, why heaters go straight into the wall, auto shut-off features, fuel-burning heaters and carbon monoxide, fireplace basics and safe ways to stay warm when the power is out.
Getting stuck in snow or ice on a highway or city street can turn dangerous fast. What federal weather and emergency agencies say to do if you are stranded in your car in a winter storm: stay with the vehicle, run the engine safely, keep the tailpipe clear, signal for help, watch for hypothermia and pack a car kit before the next storm.
Hurricanes, floods, fires and long outages affect people long after the damage is cleaned up. The emotional and physical reactions federal health agencies describe as common, how adults and children may respond differently, practical ways to cope, how to support neighbors and how to reach the Disaster Distress Helpline and 988.