The every year Snow thread

Published

I know every year someone posts a thread about the trials and tribulations of going to work in a snow storm. After 10 years in nursing I still dread the snow. Usually my hubby takes me to work and picks me up in snow storms. Now that we have a little one who is 1 year old those days are long gone. So now I have to decide on what I'm going to do this weekend when we are expected to get 8 to 10 inches Friday into Saturday. Do I book a hotel now close to work? Do I make arrangements the night before the storm to spend the night at work for my day shift the next day? Or do I just try my luck in the AM getting to work in one piece? Gah. My dream is to eventually convince hubby to move to an location where snow is rare or minimum. A girl can dream .

Specializes in ICU.

For those of you jealous that the hospital sets up cots...

Are you still jealous now? I'd pay more than I made in a night to have a real hotel bed with my own private room and a shower before I'd take one of these, personally. Disclaimer: one of my FB friends' pictures, not mine, but this is exactly the setup at my hospital if you want to stay. You are inches away from a (potentially) complete stranger on each side of you while you are sleeping. I just can't handle that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
For those of you jealous that the hospital sets up cots...

Are you still jealous now? I'd pay more than I made in a night to have a real hotel bed with my own private room and a shower before I'd take one of these, personally. Disclaimer: one of my FB friends' pictures, not mine, but this is exactly the setup at my hospital if you want to stay. You are inches away from a (potentially) complete stranger on each side of you while you are sleeping. I just can't handle that.

That's a morgue gurney.

"I'm not dead yet!"

"Yes you are!"

"I'm feeling much better.."

-Monty Python

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
That's a morgue gurney.

"I'm not dead yet!"

"Yes you are!"

"I'm feeling much better.."

-Monty Python

Usually our morgue gurneys don't have any sort of padding whatsoever - they're just stainless steel - so at least this is a slight bit more comfortable than what the average dead person at my facility experiences. I'd probably wish I was dead when I woke up after sleeping on something with so little padding, though.

*snuggles into her expensive pillow top mattress with glee*

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I may have to drive future hubster to work in the AM because I A) have the AWD and B) am a better driver. Not looking forward to it even though I know how to do it.

Did you saw you were The Jersey Shore?

Wildwood- Holy Flooding, Batman!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

30"

I'm talking snow, peeps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
And snow tires....definitely invest.

I concur :yes:

I also think that SummitRN offers excellent advice in #42.

As some of you may know, I'm Swedish. We certainly get our fair share of snow and inclement weather. Here, winter tires (either studded or non-studded) are a legal requirement between December 1st and March 31st and may be used between October 1st and April 15th if road conditions warrant it.

Personally I prefer studded winter tires but any kind of winter tire is a vast improvement over summer tires and even all-season tires. Deeper treads offer better traction and the rubber compounds used in winter tires maintain elasticity even at temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius (- 22F). This makes winter tires life savers.

Just be aware that if you use studded tires and the road surface changes from snowy/slushy/icy to wet, the studded tire might increase the risk for hydroplaning. So if you live somewhere where you don't have consistent snow/ice during the winter months but weather that alternates between dry roads/wet roads/snow, then studded tires probably aren't the best choice but there are excellent winter tires without studs available.

Since the 1980s it's been mandatory in Sweden to take a class that teaches you how to drive in hazardous road conditions in order to get a driver's license. This is accomplished with the help of the "Skidcar".

(How the thing works and what road conditions can be simulated is explained between 2:05 and 4:01).

About Us: SKIDCAR & SKIDTRUCK Systems

I think that practising how to avoid skids and how to handle them if and when they do happen is a good idea for anyone who drives on snow/slush or ice. I don't know if classes like these are available to you guys?

Stay safe!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.

macawake! Haven't seen you here for awhile.

Heads up, if things pan out in a certain, frightening way, I may be moving to your country, or perhaps Finland. ;) Will be sure to buy snow tires upon arrival.

The worst are the ice storms. I've had to stop multiple times to knock the sleet and ice from the wiper blades just so I could see a bit. So scary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
Did you saw you were The Jersey Shore?

Wildwood- Holy Flooding, Batman!

Nah, about two hours NW of there. Our state's beaches are flooded too but I'm in the snow zone.

And fiance got himself to work this morning in my Equinox. Good, because I was a bit on the hungover side...whoops...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
30"

I'm talking snow, peeps.

We ended with sixteen or so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
We ended with sixteen or so.

I ended up with just under 2 feet. Glad to be on the OP side of things and have the storm be on the weekend so I could stay home. Our census is full so I felt bad for all the staff that needed to work. My hospital had cots available and food. The local hotels offer discounts for our employees and I have taken advantage of that in the past. The on call attending for my division spent the weekend on an air mattress in her office b/c she was afraid she would not be able to get in if there was an emergency and they do not have enough call rooms for everyone. Crazy storm!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

My official total is 27 inches. Got my front walk shoveled, the neighbor (bless him!) did my driveway before I made it out of the house. Still have to deal with what the plow left behind, but I'm taking a break.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

22 inches total in my neck of the woods.

Public transportation was shut down yesterday except subway, buses and trolleys are a case by case basis...the other rail service is still suspended, and schools will be closed tomorrow.

The silver lining is that I'm on a five day hiatus from work-by Thursday I hope it won't flood!

My view while sipping and waiting for dinner to be done.

I have been enjoying Netflix and Hulu...and reading on my iPhone...and posting here of course-I've been missing a lot! :laugh:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion