Listen Live
St. Jude Give Monthly 2024
Praise 104.1
CLOSE

cold

Like it or not, you are about to take a ride on the extreme temperature roller coaster! Dress accordingly, because the ride won’t be over until late Tuesday.

Overnight:

Areas of Fog, Rain
Temperatures: 40s rising into the 50s
Wind: South 10-20 mph
Monday:
Rain and Snow Likely, Falling Temps
Temperatures: 40s to 20s
Wind: Northwest 15-25 mph
Tuesday:
Sunshine, Bitter Cold
Highs: 12°-17°
Wind Chill: -15° to 0°

 Hypothemia:

Extreme cold is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies in susceptible people, such as the very young, seniors, those without shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a home that is poorly insulated and/or without heat. Hypothermia can result form prolonged exposure to the cold. When exposed to cold temperatures, the body beings to lose heat faster than it can be produced. When the body’s store of energy is used up, the result is hypothermia. Because hypothermia can affect the brain, a person may not be aware that it is happening, and not take appropriate steps to prevent damage.

Warning Signs:

• Shivering, exhaustion

• Confusion, fumbling hands

• Memory loss, slurred speech

• Drowsiness

• For 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 degrees, the situation is an emergency – get medical attention immediately

• If the person is unconscious and does not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing, call 9-1-1

Prior to medical care:

• Get victim into a warm room or shelter

• Remove any wet clothing

• Warm the center of the body first – chest, neck, head, and groin – using electric blanket if available, or use skin-to-skin- contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets

• Warm, non-alcoholic, beverages can help increase body temperatures if the victim is conscious

Frostbite:

Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, typically the nose, ears, cheeks, chink fingers, or toes. Signs of frostbite include redness or pain in any skin area, a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness.

What to do:

• Get into a warm area as soon as possible

• Immerse the affected area in warm, but not hot, water

• Warm the affected area using body heat

• Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming

• Do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes if at all possible

• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow of massage it in any fashion

Outdoor Safety:

Try to stay indoors, and make trips outside as brief as possible. Limit outdoor recreational activity. Outdoor cold weather exertion puts extra strain on the heart.

• Wear hat, scarf, or mask to cover face and mouth

• Sleeves should be snug at the wrist

• Mittens are warmer than gloves

• Several layers of loose-fitting clothing should be worn under a heavy coat

Indoor Safety:

If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace or space heater, be extremely careful.

• Only use combustion heaters if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into the indoor air space

• Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch fire, such as drapes, furniture or bedding

Vehicle Safety:

During cold winter weather, keep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Make sure there is adequate antifreeze. Never leave a person of any age alone in a vehicle. Have extra blankets in case of a breakdown.