Cold Weather Caution |
By PIO Bill Kennedy | |
January 6, 2014 | |
Temperatures will fall into the teens this evening and reach single digits overnight. Wind chills may reach temperatures as low as -5 to -15 degrees. Winds will be between 15 and 25 MPH with gusts as high as 25 MPH. Warnings signs of hypothermia in adults include: If you notice signs of any of these in an individual, take these steps: • Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.
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 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. Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body). 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. Stay warm and be safe! |
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