EMERGENCY services in South Gloucestershire are warning people in the region to take extra care as snow on the ground turns to ice.
Plummeting temperatures have led to hazardous conditions after heavy snowfall on Tuesday night. In Chipping Sodbury on Thursday morning, the temperature dropped to minus 11 degrees.
Icy roads and pavements are causing chaos for hundreds in the area and police, fire and ambulance crews are urging people to take extra care. Assistant Chief Constable at Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Lawrie Lewis, said: "I want to reassure people that we are satisfied that we have enough resilience to respond to emergencies as usual.
"We have more than forty four-wheel drive vehicles out and about and able to provide assistance, and are making every effort to ensure that the force provides business as usual.
"I would urge people who are thinking of calling the police for routine or non-urgent matters to seriously consider whether that call needs to be made now, or whether it can wait, to help keep phone lines and staff free to deal with those people who are in greater need of help during this cold spell."
Officers were called to 11 crashes on Wednesday, including one in Winterbourne Down, which were all thought to be due to the weather conditions. Police were also called by many motorists who had to abandon their vehicles and to 40 incidents involving highway disruption.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to keep warm as the cold snap continues.
Deputy head of community safety Neil Liddington said: "During freezing conditions like we’ve seen this week we tend to spend more time in our homes, heating them in many different ways.
"If used correctly most heating appliances pose no danger, but during the colder spells we tend to see a rise in the number of house fires we attend that involve things like electric heaters, open fires and electric blankets.
"Simple steps like remembering to unplug electric heaters when you’re not in the room and keeping them well away from curtains and furniture, can seriously reduce the risk of having a devastating fire in the home.
"Sometimes however accidents do happen, so having working smoke alarms in your home can give you vital extra minutes to get out of the property in the event of a fire. Make sure you test the batteries every week."
Paramedics have been working tirelessly to reach all 999 calls.
Great Western Ambulance Chief Executive (GWAS) chief executive David Whiting said: "I cannot praise our staff highly enough.
"The crews out on the road, control room and support staff have all shown true dedication by getting themselves safely to work and continuing to provide an excellent service to the public during this difficult period."
While GWAS has not seen an increase in weather-related incidents– staff are still responding to hundreds of 999 calls on a daily basis across Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
Jonathan Lofthouse, GWAS director of service delivery, said: "Patients are still having heart attacks, strokes and many other medical problems – so the challenge of getting to every patient who needs our help remains.
"We currently have 4x4 vehicles working across the GWAS area which is making sure we are able to respond to everyone no matter where they are."
All schools in South Gloucestershire remained closed for a second day on Thursday..
South Gloucestershire Council said the move was to ensure the safety and welfare of pupils and staff. The situation is due to be reviewe d on Thursday afternoon.
Meetings at the council have been postponed, the mobile library service is not operating and all council-run bus services have been cancelled.
The authority currently has 2,000 tonnes of salt in store with another delivery planned this month.
A spokesman said on Thursday: "Crews worked through the night gritting all the main roads in the district twice.
"All the crews are out and about treating any further roads that need to be treated and pedestrian areas are also being looked at.
"Further runs will be carried out today."
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