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Keeping Safe & Warm
Q: How to Keep Warm in Harsh Winter Conditions?
As temperatures stay cold, there are things you need to know to protect yourself, your loved ones, elderly neighbors and young children, as well as pets and pipes.
Q: What happens to your body in cold weather?
In cold weather, 60 percent of your body's fuel is used for heat. As a result, people exposed to low temperatures and strong winds tire easily, experience rapid cooling of exposed skin surfaces and become more susceptible to hypothermia. To prevent cold weather-related emergencies, do the following:
Q: How should you dress?
- Dress warmly in loose-fitting, layered, lightweight wool clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
- Wear mittens instead of gloves -- they allow your fingers to move freely in contact with one another and will keep your hands much warmer.
- Keep yourself and your clothes dry.
- Wear a hat. A great deal of the body's heat escapes through the head.
Q: What should you drink?
- Avoid alcoholic beverages. Even though you may feel warmer, alcohol causes the body to lose its heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages such as hot chocolate or sweetened coffee or tea to help maintain your body temperature. If you have dietary restrictions, ask your
doctor.
Q: What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when your body's internal temperature drops below normal. Unlike frostbite, hypothermia can occur indoors as well as outdoors because many things can make the body lose heat.
Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40 degrees) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat or submersion in cold water.
Q: Who are the victims of hypothermia most often?
Victims of hypothermia are most often elderly people with inadequate food, clothing or heating; babies sleeping in cold bedrooms; and people who remain outdoors for long periods - the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.
People's ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age. If you are more than 65 years old, place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoor location where you see it easily and check the temperature of your home often during the winter months. Also, check on elderly friends and neighbors frequently to ensure their homes are adequately heated.
Q: How should infants be cared for in harsh weather?
Infants less than a year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults; and infants can't make enough body heat by shivering.
Provide warm clothing and a blanket for infants and try to maintain a warm indoor temperature. If the temperature cannot be maintained, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere. In an emergency, you can keep an infant warm using your own body heat. If you must sleep, take precautions to prevent rolling on the baby. Pillows and other soft bedding can also present a risk of smothering; remove them from the area near the baby.
Q: How should older adults be cared for in harsh weather?
Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity.
The symptoms of hypothermia include persistent shivering, slow and slurred speech, dizziness, confusion, impaired vision and drowsiness.
Q: If you suspect that someone is suffering from hypothermia, what
should you do?
- Handle the victim gently. People with hypothermia are at risk for cardiac arrest.
- Prevent the victim from becoming any colder. Take off any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing.
- Rewarm the victim, remembering to cover the head and neck. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall and groin.
- If the victim is alert and can swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic fluids to aid in the rewarming process.
- Get medical help as soon as possible
Q:
How should you keep pets safe?
Just because cats and dogs have fur coats doesn't mean they won't
freeze to death if left outside. Outdoor pets need to be brought
indoors and placed in draft-free areas during freezing weather.
Short-haired animals, cats and small dogs are most susceptible to
freezing weather. So are very young and very old animals. Never
leave a nursing mother cat or dog and their young outside in cold
weather.
- Keep pets well-fed and make sure water is not frozen.
- Dog houses should be off the ground, have ample bedding
and a covering over the entrances - strips of plastic or carpeting -
to prevent wind and rain coming inside. Make sure bedding is dry.
Check often.
- Animals also need to be up to date on vaccines because their immune
systems are stressed in bad weather.
Q: How should you heat your home safely?
If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely
careful. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember these safety
tips:
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Never leave a fire unattended.
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Store a multipurpose, dry chemical fire extinguisher near the area to be
heated.
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Do not burn paper in a fireplace.
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Kerosene heaters require adequate ventilation.
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Use only the type of fuel your heater is designed to use - don't substitute.
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If your heater has a damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, don't use it.
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Check extension cords for wear and do not overload them. If you're using a portable electric heater, it should be plugged directly into an appropriate household outlet. Do not use an extension cord.
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Good preventative maintenance in central heating units is recommended before cold weather hits. Have central heating units checked periodically by a professional during the winter months.
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Use fireplaces, wood stoves and other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into the indoor air space.
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Do not place space heaters near things that may catch on fire, such as drapes, furniture, or bedding.
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Make sure you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your house.
Q: How should kerosene and other
heaters be used?
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Allow liquid fuel heaters to cool before refilling. Then, refill outdoors.
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Be sure to crack window slightly to provide some ventilation. Liquid fuel heaters give off carbon monoxide fumes.
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Make sure heaters have the UL safety listing.
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Have three-foot clearances in every direction around all portable heaters to keep away from combustibles such as cloth, furniture, papers and plastic furniture.
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Follow operating instructions and clean portable heaters periodically. Maintain the heaters according to manufacturers recommendations.
Q: How important are fire drills at home?
When it gets cold like this, the more serious fires of the year occur because of portable heaters and burglar bars:
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Perform family fire drills to plan ways to get out of the home if normal exits are blocked.
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Have at least two exits and a place to meet outside.
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If heaters are not operating properly, call a technician to check it.
Q: What should you do about burglar bars and drying clothes?
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Burglar bars should be easily removed or opened from the inside.
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Don't dry clothes or anything else on heaters.
Q: How can pipes be protected from damage?
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Cover exposed outside pipes with foam pipe insulation. It can easily be cut and slipped right onto the pipe.
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Put freeze caps on all outside faucets, then you don't have to run them in freezing weather.
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Otherwise, drip outside faucets just enough so the water flows out in a stream
about the circumference of a pencil. This prevents water from collecting inside
the waterline and freezing, possibly bursting the pipes.
Q: What should you do to protect
plants?
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Cover tender outside plants with old sheets or plastic. Sheet are best because
they breathe. Be sure to remove plastic before sun hits it because the plastic
will burn the tips of the plants. Don't put it on too early in the day, because
condensation under it can harm plants.
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Bring hanging and delicate potted plants indoors.
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Water outdoor plants deeply during the day when it is sunny. Well-watered plants
are less likely to be damaged.
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It's a good time to trim any damaged or loose limbs.
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A sprinkler dripping all night can protect extremely delicate plants.
Q: Where is additional information available?
Sources: American Red Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the Savannah-Chatham Humane Society, the Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Electric,
Lowes, University of Georgia Extension Service, Georgia Emergency Management
Agency and AAA Auto Club
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