When driving
-
Plan ahead
and make sure before leaving that your trip is necessary.
-
Watch out for
black ice and roads that appear treacherous. Take it slower when
approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady areas
because they are all prone to icing.
-
Dress warmly and
in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in anticipation
of emergencies.
-
Make sure
someone is aware of your travel route.
-
Always keep an emergency car care kit that contains jumper cables,
flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, a small ice scraper,
traction material, blankets, nonperishable food, and a first-aid
kit.
-
Always carry a cell phone and wear a seat belt.
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Winter survival kit for your
car
-
Blankets
-
First-aid kit
-
A can and waterproof matches (to melt
snow for water)
-
Windshield scraper
-
Booster cables
-
Road maps
-
Mobile phone
-
Compass
-
Tool kit
-
Paper towels
-
Bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on
ice or snow for added traction)
-
Tow rope
-
Tire chains (in areas with heavy snow)
-
Collapsible shovel
-
Container of water and high-calorie
canned or dried foods and a can opener
-
Flashlight and extra batteries
-
Canned compressed air with sealant
(for emergency tire repair)
-
Brightly colored cloth
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Home tips in extreme cold
-
Use fireplace, wood
stoves or other combustion heaters only if they are properly
vented to the outside, and do not leak flue gas into the indoor
air space.
-
Do not burn paper in a
fireplace.
-
Ensure adequate
ventilation if you must use a kerosene heater.
-
Use only the type of fuel
your heater is designed to use -- don't substitute.
-
Do not place a space
heater within three feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as
drapes, furniture or bedding, and never cover your space
heater.
-
Never place a space heater
on top of furniture or near water.
-
Never leave children
unattended near a space heater.
-
Make sure that the cord of
an electric space heater is not a tripping hazard, but do not run
the cord under carpets or rugs.
-
Avoid using extension
cords to plug in your space heater.
-
If your space heater has a
damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, do not use it.
-
Store a multipurpose,
dry-chemical fire extinguisher near the area to be heated.
-
Protect yourself from
carbon monoxide poisoning by installing a battery-operated
CO detector and never using generators, grills, camp stoves or
similar devices indoors.
Dress
warmly and stay dry
Adults and children should wear:
-
A hat.
-
A scarf or knit mask to cover face and
mouth.
-
Sleeves that are snug at the wrist.
-
Mittens (they are warmer than gloves).
-
Water-resistant coat and boots.
-
Several layers of loose-fitting
clothing.
Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is
tightly woven, preferably wind-resistant, to reduce body-heat loss
caused by wind. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of
clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.
Stay dry -- wet clothing
chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat
loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.
Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing
and fueling your car or using a snowblower. These materials in
contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.
Do
not ignore shivering. It's an important first sign that the body is
losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Avoid
exertion
Cold weather puts an extra strain
on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure,
follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other
hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor
chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already
working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it.
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Understand wind chill
The wind chill index is the
temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined
with the wind speed. It is based on the rate of heat loss from
exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the speed of
the wind increases, it can carry heat away from your body much more
quickly, causing skin temperature to drop. When there are high
winds, serious weather-related health problems are more likely, even
when temperatures are only cool.
Hypothermia
When exposed to cold temperatures,
your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced.
Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body's stored
energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body
temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain,
making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes
hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it
is happening and won't be able to do anything about it.
Hypothermia is most likely at very cold
temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above
40 degrees F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat or submersion in
cold water.
Victims of hypothermia are often (1) elderly
people with inadequate food, clothing or heating; (2) babies
sleeping in cold bedrooms; (3) people who remain outdoors for long
periods -- the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.; and (4) people who
drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
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Recognizing hypothermia
Warning signs of hypothermia:
Adults:
-
Shivering, exhaustion
-
Confusion, fumbling hands
-
Memory loss, slurred speech
-
Drowsiness
Infants:
-
Bright red, cold skin
-
Very low energy
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What
to do:
If you notice any of these signs,
take the person's temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, the situation is
an emergency -- get medical attention immediately.
If medical care is not available, begin warming
the person, as follows:
-
Get the victim into a warm room or
shelter.
-
If the victim has on any wet clothing,
remove it.
-
Warm the center of the body
first -- chest, neck, head, and groin -- using an electric blanket, if
available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of
blankets, clothing, towels or sheets.
-
Warm beverages can help increase the
body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to
give beverages to an unconscious person.
-
After body temperature has increased,
keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the
head and neck.
-
Get medical attention as soon as
possible.
A person with severe hypothermia may be
unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In
this case, handle the victim gently and get emergency assistance
immediately. Even if the victim appears dead, emergency
resuscitation should be
provided. CPR should continue while the victim is being warmed,
until the victim responds or medical aid becomes available. In some
cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully
resuscitated.
Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury to the body
that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and
color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears,
cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the
body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite
is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among
people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.
Recognizing frostbite:
-
At the first signs of redness or
pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed
skin -- frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may
indicate frostbite:
-
A white or grayish-yellow skin area
-
Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
-
Numbness
-
Note: A victim is often unaware of frostbite until
someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2009/Jan/14/images/ads/current/mcquellons_bch010509.png)
What
to do:
If you detect symptoms of
frostbite, seek medical care. Because frostbite and hypothermia both
result from exposure, first determine whether the victim also shows
signs of hypothermia, as described previously. Hypothermia is a more
serious medical condition and requires emergency medical assistance.
If (1) there is frostbite but no sign of
hypothermia and (2) immediate medical care is not available, proceed
as follows:
-
Get into a warm room as soon as
possible.
-
Unless absolutely necessary, do not
walk on frostbitten feet or toes -- this increases the damage.
-
Immerse the affected area in warm -- not
hot -- water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for
unaffected parts of the body).
-
Or, warm the affected area using body
heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm
frostbitten fingers.
-
Do not rub the frostbitten area with
snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
-
Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp or
the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming. Affected
areas are numb and can be easily burned.
These procedures are not substitutes for proper
medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency, and frostbite
should be evaluated by a health care provider. It is a good idea to
take a first-aid and CPR to prepare
for cold-weather health problems. Knowing what to do is an important
part of protecting your health and the health of others.
Taking preventive action is your best defense
against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By
preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies and
by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold
weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.
[Text from file received
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
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