Monthly Archives: January 2014

You dont need a weather forecast here, You already know ITS COLD, ITS SNOWY, and IT SUX….  But you should remember the many safety tips that can save your life in this frigid weather.

 Travelling; If you must go out , always leave early to allow your self plenty of time so you can Drive Slower. Keep an eye on the person in front of you as well as the person behind you.. Be Prepare to stop or avoid an accident..  Stay on the mainHighways/ roads whenever possible. Back roads and side streets can be treacherous.

Travel gear; Put extra blankets in your car. For me the rule of thumb would be a blanket for each member of the family. But SOME is better than none.  Additonally extra hats and gloves is not a badf idea either. Have snack bars and water in your car for any emergency. Always make sure your phone is fully charged when you leave the house.   NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR. Unless you are in the middle of the road or in some other danger from your car, you should stay put until help arrives. About roadside Assistance; You should know in advance how your service works… It may be better to have your local tow company/ Auto repair shop  programmed into your phone. This may be quicker than waitng for your roadside assistance program..

Outdoor Activity; Well if you MUST be ou,t always wear your clothing in layers and in this type of weather ALL SKIN should be covered, so have a scarf that can wrap all the way around your head and face. Dont over exert/do.  If you have go out to shovel  TAKE YOUR TIME, DONT TRY TO IT ALL, take breaks. Your heart has to work much harder in these conditions. Keep children and pets inside; Yes pets have to go out  But get them back indoors asap.

On the Home front;  Always err on the side of caution keep you and your family SAFE… Every house should have additional/    alternate heat sources. Electric heaters, fro when trhe gas may go out . Propane heaters,  for when the is an electrical outage.  And if you have a wood burner always have some wood handy for emergencies, this will provide heat if there is no gas or electric. If you have to use these always keep them away from children, and always keep your eye on them. Propane heaters require ventilation and produce carbon monoxide gas. Make sure you have VENTILATION… You should have pleny of blankets on hand and have your emegency candles out and ready.  SO do you have these items???? Check your car and house and do your best to be prepared for these and any other emergencies.. If you have some tips and/or Ideas please post them as a comment .. SO please be safe and spring should be here soon, Hope, Hope,

As all of you are well aware of, this artic bombardment just wont quit.. I have gotten used to the cold (-20)  then warm  heat waves (+20) … But I am so tired of these penquins and walrus’s coming down here acting like they own the place… Go back to to The Artic and take this weather with you… Oh and these Polar Bears, dont get me started on them geez… So as you can see ,like everyone else,  I want the spring to get here and FAST.. or at least a “CONSISTENT” HEAT WAVE OF 20 ish..

I dont always invite artic animals to my home…. But, when I do, I prefer they dont come at all… Stay thirsty my freinds.. and warm

Of course, the first thing for safety when temperatures get this bitterly cold, is to stay indoors!!  The majority of the roads in our area are impassable, and law enforcement is urging everyone to stay home and not go out on the roads.  You are putting your life at risk by going out on days like today.

However, if you must go outside here are a few safety reminders:

Dress in layers and don’t stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time.  Hypothermia and frostbite are two common cold-related problems that can occur.

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°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.

Recognizing Hypothermia

Warnings signs of hypothermia:

Adults:

• shivering, exhaustion
• confusion, fumbling hands
• memory loss, slurred speech
• drowsiness

Infants:

• bright red, cold skin
• very low energy

What to Do

If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95°, 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, CPR 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

A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

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 emergency resuscitation (CPR) course 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.

Also vitally important is taking care of your pets in this type of weather.

MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE SAFE DURING THE COLD WEATHER