HIKE, HUNT, FISH, CLIMB, SKI, BIKE, BOAT.

D: Drive like you’ve done this before: Survive the streets. Accelerate and decelerate slowly, know your brakes, drive slow and keep an eight- to 10-second following distance during winter driving, advises AAA. Don’t be that guy who starts an eight-vehicle chain reaction because you’re tailgating on slippery roads.

E: Equipment adjustments: Survive and thrive in the outdoors. Going sledding, skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing? Make sure you have the proper equipment, like a properly fitted helmet. Wearing a helmet can decrease injuries by 30 to 50 percent, according to Liz Kracht, an injury prevention coordinator for Ascension Health Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

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F: Frostbite: Simply, bodily injury caused by freezing. Loss of feeling and color in the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes are common, according to the CDC. Dress accordingly.

G: Gas it up: Keep your gas tank at least half full during the Wisconsin cold. It helps prevent frozen gas lines.

H: Hypothermia: As in dangerously low body temperature, which can have fatal consequences. Prolonged cold exposure drains your body’s stored energy, which can affect the brain. Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.

I: Ice: It’s slippery out there, people. Don’t fall when things get slick. Experts recommend modeling a penguin: Keep your center of gravity over your front leg like the flightless bird.

J: Jackets, hats, boots, and gloves: It’s your basic winter weather survival gear. Loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothing are key.

K: Kits: As in your winter survival kit, which should consist of a shovel, windshield scraper, flashlight, battery-powered radio, water and snacks, among other things.

L: Ladysmith, we feel you: The city, located in Rusk County, reported a reading of minus 32 on Feb. 14, the coldest statewide temperature of this past winter.

M: “Move Over Law:” The state law that requires motorists to move or slow down for stopped emergency, law enforcement and maintenance vehicles should be front of mind for anyone behind the wheel. About 50 people are killed and more than 4,900 people are injured in Wisconsin each winter, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE WEATHER!

N: National Weather Service: The folks at the National Weather Service are the brains that issue winter weather advisories and winter storm, ice storm, blizzard and wind chill warnings. Get the latest forecast at www.weather.gov.

O: Overexertion: Strain on your heart that’s compounded by cold weather is never a good thing. Shoveling, snow blowing or pushing a car out of snow can bring on a heart attack or exacerbate an existing medical condition. Be smart out there, people.

P: Pets: Don’t forget about them. Sure, your Golden Retriever loves playing in the snow. But exposed nose, ear and paw pad skin can quickly freeze and suffer significant damage, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Perhaps Sparky needs to dress for the weather as well.

Q: Quit whining: It’s Wisconsin. Get over it.

R: Record low temp: The state’s lowest recorded temperature is minus 55, recorded on Feb. 2 and 4, 1986, near Couderay in Sawyer County. That’s a record we don’t need to break.

S: Shortest Day: As in winter solstice, or the shortest day of the year, which falls on Dec. 21. In our hemisphere, that’s when the sun falls directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, located at 23½ degrees south of the equator.

SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON THE RIGHT GEAR FOR YOU AND YOUR AUTO

T: Tires: Make sure your treads are ready for winter driving. And keep the tires properly inflated so you’re not sliding around the highway.

U: USA TODAY NETWORK- Follow USA TODAY NETWORK-sites on desktop and mobile for the latest weather, school closings and other winter-related happenings when the cold and snow strike.

V: Vortex, Polar: A large area of low pressure and cold air that dips its way south with the jet stream into our backyards. A powerful polar vortex chilled the state in January 2014. The storm rolling across the USA this weekend once again has those dreaded words attached.

W: Wind chill: What it “feels like” when you step outside. The reading is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold, according to the NWS.

X: Xerosis: As in dry skin. Falling temperatures and humidity levels, long showers and moisture-stripping soaps and detergents are often to blame for the pesky condition.

Y: Youth be served: That back pain getting you down? Fetch some young neighborhood youths to shovel your driveway and sidewalk. Tell them it “builds character.” And toss them a dollar or two while you’re at it. It’s good for the economy.

Z: Zzzzzz: Rooting for a snow day? At least you’ll get to sleep in.

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