Here are some tips to help stay safe in cold weather:
Dress appropriately before going outdoors. (duh..) The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for someone to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia and frostbite.
Dress in layers. Avoid overdressing or overexertion that can lead to heat illness.
Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
Wear insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry. Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. If water immersion is used, do not use HOT water. You can cause further injury. Use warm water and allow the body to slowly warm up. DO NOT RUB THE AREA. Also avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol. These will worsen conditions of hypothermia or frostbite.
Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms. The initial onset of these is call frostnip.
Traveling in our harsh winter can be dangerous. Allow for extra time when traveling. Monitor weather conditions carefully and adhere to travel advisories.
Have a winter storm survival kit in your car. This should include blankets, food, flares, chains, gloves and first aid supplies.
Please keep a close eye on children. Even the shortest exposure can cause severe damage to the skin at 40 below. Just touching a door knob without gloves on may burn skin. As you may know, young children can sit quietly while there hands are turning yellow then gray! It is our job to keep ourselves and our families safe. Oh yay...