Community Corner

Temperatures In The Teens Next Few Days Worsened By Wind

National Weather Service offers tips on dealing with extreme cold.

 

Temperatures in the teens today are forecasted to climb briefly into the 20s before falling again, according to The Weather Channel, with wind chill making that feel more like 10 degrees today and tomorrow.

The National Weather Service has provided some tips on dealing with very cold temperatures: 

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  • Minimize outdoor activities, especially for the elderly and very young.
  • Dress in several layers of loose-fitting clothing rather than a single layer of heavy clothing. Wear a hat, mittens and waterproof boots. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
  • When using heating sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters, be sure to ventilate them correctly. Test smoke alarms and keep carbon monoxide detectors handy.
  • Bring pets out of the cold. Don't assume they can handle the cold. If you are not warm, they are not either.
  • Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
  • Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently 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 the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible.

The National Weather Service has also posted a series of instructions for dealing with extreme cold and winter storms before, during and after. 


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