Old man winter arrived in the south last night and the South isn’t used to this kind of weather! Here are some tips from the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response page for winter weather safety when you’re stuck inside the house…where you should be during this state of emergency:<\/p>\n
If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely careful. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s instructions and remember these safety tips:<\/p>\n
If there is a power failure:<\/p>\n
You may need fresh air coming in for your heater or for emergency cooking arrangements. However, if you don\u2019t need extra ventilation, keep as much heat as possible inside your home. Avoid unnecessary opening of doors or windows. Close off unneeded rooms, stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors, and close draperies or cover windows with blankets at night.<\/p>\n
Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because (1) infants lose body heat more easily than adults; and (2) unlike adults, infants can\u2019t make enough body heat by shivering. Provide warm clothing for infants and try to maintain a warm indoor temperature. If the temperature cannot be maintained, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere. In an emergency, you can keep an infant warm using your own body heat. If you must sleep, take precautions to prevent rolling on the baby. Pillows and other soft bedding can also present a risk of smothering; remove them from the area near the baby.<\/p>\n
Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. If you are over 65 years of age, check the temperature in your home often during severely cold weather. Also, check on elderly friends and neighbors frequently to ensure that their homes are adequately heated.<\/p>\n
Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes rupture. When very cold temperatures are expected:<\/p>\n
If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Instead, thaw them slowly by directing the warm air from an electric hair dryer onto the pipes.<\/p>\n
If you cannot thaw your pipes, or the pipes are ruptured, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor\u2019s home. As an emergency measure\u2014if no other water is available\u2014snow can be melted for water. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most microorganisms or parasites that may be present, but won\u2019t remove chemical pollutants sometimes found in snow.<\/p>\n
Eating well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer. Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages\u2014they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature. If you have any dietary restrictions, ask your doctor.<\/p>\n
When the weather is extremely cold, and especially if there are high winds, try to stay indoors. Make any trips outside as brief as possible, and remember these tips to protect your health and safety:<\/p>\n
Adults and children should wear:<\/p>\n
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\u2014wet 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 snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body. Do not ignore shivering. It\u2019s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019t be able to do anything about it.<\/p>\n
Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40\u00b0F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor\u2019s 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\u2019t overdo it.