Severe cold is here again! Take tips to protect yourself, your family and pets.
The best way to fight off the cold is to stay indoors, with heat! If your home is inadequately heated, go to a neighbor’s or relative’s house. Keep these other tips in mind to stay safe and healthy during cold:
- If you must go out, bundle up in layers and keep a hat on that head!
- Limit your time outdoors.
- Keep dry. If you get wet, change out of any wet clothing quickly to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
- Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and drink warm, non-alcoholic beverages. Get medical help as soon as possible.
- Make sure your car and home are ready for winter.
- Bring pets indoors.
No matter what the weather, always have weather appropriate emergency kits handy at home and in your car and know the emergency plans for work, school and places you frequent. Stay connected with weather alerts and other news sources too so you’re never caught off guard.