Earlier this month, records were shattered as the nation was hit with a friendly reminder of Mother Nature’s power. In some areas, the risk for hypothermia was so high, authorities begged citizens to stay inside. Even though it’s not likely that a record breaking cold front will happen again this year,  the ridiculous cold shows that it’s important to know how to be safe.

Inevitably, the media does what it likes to do and gave everyone a catchphrase: Polar Vortex. The fear surrounding the ‘Polar Vortex’ is a product of the media scaring people into getting more subscribers. (for a similar example Google ‘Justin Bieber Drug Possession’). Even though ‘Polar Vortex’ sounds like something from a comic book, cold weather is nothing to be scared of and neither is this weather system.

First, the facts: The Polar Vortex is a system of winds that circulate around the North Pole. It’s basically a collection of jet streams that drop down on America most years, however we usually get it in much smaller doses in comparison to our friends in Canada. This year it came further south. Under normal conditions, the vortex spins around tight to the poles, and it goes so quick that hardly any cold air can escape its pull. Now, because of global warming, the ocean temperatures heat the atmosphere enough to make the vortex unstable, and the arctic temperatures are able to move in any way they want. What’s scary to think about, is that with more arctic ice disappearing every day there is a possibility that the vortex could do this more in the future. Oh, the irony: global warming causes us all to freeze.

So in preparation for a live showing of The Day After Tomorrow, here’s a new take on some rules that were blatantly stolen from our generation’s pinnacle of film, Zombieland.

1. Don’t be a hero.

This concerns fashion. Maybe the staple athletic shorts and sweatshirt can be put on the shelf for a day when your car starts and your breath doesn’t crystallize on the windows. Adding on to that, just because your status went viral doesn’t mean you’re you have to go flying into a snow bank with nothing but your underwear on.

2. Wear your seat belt.

While fishtailing on the way to school, eating breakfast, texting and  thinking about the homework you forgot to do simultaneously you will at least be safe from hurtling out of the front windshield of your car if you buckle up.

3. Enjoy the little things.

This also mean to take care in the little things. Make sure you’re properly hydrated before going out and shoveling: it will keep your head clear. As well as being an illegal activity, drinking alcohol lowers your core body temperature, which is obviously not a good idea.  Make sure you’re wearing the right shoes and layer clothing to stay warm.

But seriously, it’s important to be mindful of what limitations your body has in respect to the cold. The Polar Vortex is an impressive weather system, and it brought temperatures to some cities that rivaled the surface temperature of Mars. Man has struggled with winter since the beginning of history, and just because it is ‘2k14,’ resist the urge to endanger the body. Please, instead of turning up, turn down for safety. Luckily, come spring this cold front will have disappeared. So, chill out people.