Pomperaug District Department of Health
Having a Safe and Healthy Winter |
|
With the winter
season upon us, The Pomperaug Health District would like to remind residents
of some basic winter safety tips.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia, the lowering of the body's core temperature, is one of
the dangers associated with very cold weather. Hypothermia occurs when
the body temperature drops below 95°F. Some signs of hypothermia are
blueness or puffiness of the skin, drowsiness, poor coordination, slurred
speech, irritability, mental confusion, a deep feeling of cold or numbness
and intense shivering. A tell-tale sign of hypothermia is a cold abdomen.
Hypothermia can lead to a coma and death.
Prevention
Hypothermia can easily prevented. Dressing properly is the key. The
Pomperaug Health District recommends the following:
|
Wear loose clothes in layers. Layers help trap the air to keep
you warm. Also, layers can be easily removed to prevent perspiration
and chill.
Dry hair immediately after a bath or shower.
When hands or feet are cold, add more clothes and remove layers
as needed. Wear extra sock and warm slippers to keep feet warm.
Consider wearing a nightcap to bed. Sleep with extra blankets
and long underwear and socks for extra warmth.
Be sure to wear a hat and scarf since up to 50% of your body
heat can escape through your uncovered head or neck. Cover you
mouth with the scarf to help protect your lungs.
DO NOT consume alcohol, coffee or tea in attempt to
warm up. Alcohol and caffeine dilate blood vessels which promotes
the rapid loss of body heat.
|
While hypothermia
can happen to anyone, the elderly run the highest risk because their
bodies often do not adjust to changes in temperature quickly and they
may be unaware they are gradually getting colder. Surprisingly, most
cases of hypothermia occur indoors among older people, in their own
homes. For this reason, it is important to set your thermostat above
65°F to avoid hypothermia.
Heating costs have
sky-rocketed in recent years. Local residents who meet eligibility requirements
may get help in paying for their energy costs through the NOW program.
Southbury residents who need assistance may call Loryn Ray at the Southbury
Town Hall, 262-0666. Woodbury residents can call Margie Ross at the
Woodbury Town Hall, 263-4117. Oxford residents may call the Oxford Town
Hall at 888-2543.
What
to do
Not all of the above warning signs may be present in a person with hypothermia.
Some of the warning signs could also indicate other serious conditions,
such as stroke, heart attack or diabetic coma. The most certain clue
to hypothermia is a person's body temperature. When taking someone's
temperature, be sure to shake the thermometer all the way down. If the
oral temperature is below 95°F or doesn't register, call a doctor or
911 and indicate that the person may be suffering from hypothermia.
Hypothermia is a serious medical emergency. Don't give the person
anything to eat or drink, do not try to re-warm the person other than
gently covering with a blanket to prevent further heat loss and don't
move the person even to change clothes.
Frostbite
Freezing weather poses another hazard: frostbite. In frostbite, skin
and underlying nerves and blood vessels freeze. Damage can be so severe
that the affected part of the body may actually be lost. Most often,
frostbite affects the toes, fingers, earlobes, chin and tip of the nose
(these body parts are often left uncovered and can freeze quickly).
Mild
Frostbite
Mild frostbite or frostnip, affects the outer layers the skin and appears
as a whitening of the skin. A person may feel severe cold, numbness,
a "pins and needles" feeling, then pain. Usually these symptoms will
disappear as warming occurs, but the skin may appear red for several
hours after.
Even with mild
frostbite, you should receive medical attention. However, here are some
self-warming guidelines that you can follow to prevent further injury:
- First get to a warm place where you can stay warm after thawing.
Remove wet clothes.
- You can re-warm the affected area by soaking in warm water - not
hot water -(approximately 100°F) for about 30-45 minutes until good
color has returned to the area. This process might be painful.
- If warm water is not available, cover yourself with blankets, coats,
sweaters, etc. or place the frostbitten extremity in a warm body area
such as in an armpit or on the abdomen.
- Do not allow the injury to thaw and re-freeze. This is very dangerous
- it can cause serious or permanent injury.
- Leave blisters intact.
- Do not use dry heat (sun lamp, radiator, hair dryer, heating pad,
etc.) to thaw the injured area.
- Do not rub or massage the frostbitten area. You may cause tissue
damage. NEVER rub the area with snow.
- Do not use alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or other drugs that may
affect blood flow.
Severe
Frostbite
Severe cases of frostbite are extremely serious. The skin will appear
waxy-looking with a white, grayish-yellow or grayish-blue color. The
affected part will be numb and blisters may be present. The tissues
will feel frozen or "wooden". During re-warming the skin may turn blue
or purple and become swollen, itchy, and extremely painful. Severe
cases of frostbite require immediate medical attention.
Preventing
frostbite
To avoid frostbite follow the same precautions as you would to prevent
hypothermia. It is especially important to keep hands, feet, and the
head area warm. Wear a hat and scarf. Wear snug, but not tight, insulated
boots or shoes with wool socks. Wear mittens instead of gloves. Mittens
are warmer than gloves - they trap the heat from other fingers and don't
limit circulation. If you need to use your hands, wear a pair of gloves
under the mittens.
Winter
Storm Precautions
Winter storms can pose a variety of problems. Preparation for a storm
should begin when a storm watch has been issued. You should have on
hand:
- Warm clothes and extra blankets
- Flashlight, portable radio, batteries
- Containers for water, canned food, pet food, a manual can opener,
medications
- Ice, cooler(s)
- Sterno, candles, matches
- Games, cards, books
- Firewood
Before the cold
weather begins, you should be sure the chimney has been cleaned and
that your furnace is in good working order.
Keep your car stocked
with supplies in case you get stuck or stranded. These supplies should
include: a blanket, gloves, hat, extra clothing, first-aid kit, snow
shovel and either sand or kitty litter for traction.
In the event of
a power outage, food spoilage can occur if electricity is not restored
for a few days. When a storm watch has been issued, set the refrigerator
and freezer temperatures to their coldest setting. Food in most freezers
will remain at safe temperatures (below45°F) for up to three days. To
keep refrigerator and freezer longer, keep the door clsed and cover
the appliance with a blanket or insulated material, taking care not
to cover the vents. If the food temperature has risen above 45°F or
if you are in doubt about its safety, throw it out.
A power outage
may also make it impossible to use your well. Before the storm begins,
set aside a supply of water by filling your bathtub, sinks and any spare
containers.
Shoveling
After heavy snowfalls, there are many reports of people fatally stricken
with heart attcks from overexertion while shoveling snow or pushing
stalled vehicles. Often, they are men over 40 or those with a history
of heart trouble. The Pomperaug Health District would like offer the
following advice:
|
If you
are not in condition for hard, physical efforts, or if you have
a heart condition, hire someone to shovel you walk or driveway.
If you
start perspiring unduly, or if your breathing becomes difficult
or short, stop and rest. Also, rest if you pulse beats too fast
or your heart begins to pound.
If you
feel yourself becoming tired, stop and rest. Take frequent rest
periods. Don't try to rush.
Avoid lifting
too much snow on the shovel at one time. Instead, take "small
bites". Lifting too much at one time can cause back injury as
well as tire you out.
A snow
blower is helpful with removing snow, but requires careful use.
Always shut off the engine before making any adjustments or trying
to clear clogged snow or objects. Keep children or pets away from
the area you are clearing. The snow blower blades can pick up
hidden objects, like stones, and hurl them with tremendous force.
Wear appropriate footwear to avoid slipping. Never add fuel while
the engine is running or hot.
|
A little knowledge
and common sense will go a long way in keeping the cold winter months
as safe as possible.
click
here for printable version
^top
of page
