Winter storms are considered deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm.  For example, in the last five years Wisconsin has averaged 50,000 motor vehicle crashes during winter months.  An average of 45 people are killed and more than 5,000 injured on icy or snow-covered roads.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a danger.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States, with more than 20,000 people visiting the emergency room and nearly 500 killed each year from overexposure to the gas.

Now is the time to winterize your car and home, gather items for an emergency kit in your car, and make sure you have a NOAA Weather Radio with fresh batteries.  Additional winter weather tips and how to put together a winter emergency kit are available at the ReadyWisconsin website (readywisconsin.wi.gov).  In addition, there are numerous winter storm maps and a history of Wisconsin's winter weather produced by the National Weather Service.