Dress for Cold Temperatures! Beware Frostbite And Hypothermia!

It will be downright frigid these next couple of days. Frostbite and even hypothermia are potential dangers. Make sure your kids wear the proper clothing to stay warm and safe.

• Kids should wear sensible winter clothing — hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, winter jacket, snow boots — that is waterproof and warm, and change into something dry if their clothes get wet.
• Don't let kids wear scarves or any clothing that can get caught in a sled and pose a risk of strangulation.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if his/her skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, be alerted to the possibility of frostbite and take the

Via the Mayo Clinic

following steps:

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily.
• Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop in core temperature below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated and reversed leads to unconsciousness and death.

Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of hypothermia and cold water, not the fatal effects from water filled lungs.

Stay Warm and Look Cool. Dress for Cold Temperatures!

After a couple of days of being home bound kids, and adults, will want to get out and play in the snow.  Of course, that means it's going to be cold. Frostbite and even hypothermia are potential dangers. Make sure your kids wear the proper clothing to stay warm and safe.

• Kids should wear sensible winter clothing — hats, gloves or mittens, snow pants, winter jacket, snow boots — that is waterproof and warm, and change into something dry if their clothes get wet.
• Don't let kids wear scarves or any clothing that can get caught in a sled and pose a risk of strangulation.
• Make your kids wear helmets, particularly if they're 12 or younger. Helmets designed for winter sports work best, but if you don't have one, make sure they at least wear a bike helmet or something similar.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if his/her skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, be alerted to the possibility of frostbite and take the

Via the Mayo Clinic

following steps:

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily.
• Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop in core temperature below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated and reversed leads to unconsciousness and death.

Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of hypothermia and cold water, not the fatal effects from water filled lungs.

THE ONLY "SAFE" ICE IS AT A SKATING ARENA!

The next few days will be a lot warmer and well above the freezing temps we have had over the last week.  Some local ponds and lakes have had ice form which lead some folks to, incorrectly, assume it is totally frozen through thus safe to walk or skate on. You should never go on a lake or pond when it appears it may be frozen over!

Today and tomorrow will be particularly dangerous as many lakes or ponds may appear to still have a sheet of ice on them.  It will more than likely be very thin as the ice will be melting.  But with the warmer days, many children will be outside (after school) to take advantage of the warm weather.  Unfortunately, some may decide to venture onto the local lake or pond. 

Below are some tips on what to, and NOT to, do if someone falls through the ice as well as some cold water facts.

Be safe,
Bill

WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEONE FALLS THROUGH THE ICE?

• Act quickly and call 9-1-1 for help immediately. Make sure properly trained and equipped rescue personnel are alerted to respond.
• DO NOT go out onto the ice. Many times would-be rescuers become victims themselves.
• Reach, Throw, or Row. Extend a branch, pole or ladder to the victim. Throw them a buoyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope. If a boat is nearby row out to the victim or push it toward them.

HOW COLD IS COLD WATER?

• Any water that is cooler than normal body temperature (98.6 degrees F) is by definition "cold water"
• Cold water drains away body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air!
• The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

• Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop n core temperature below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated and reversed leads to unconsciousness and death.
• Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of hypothermia and cold water, not the fatal effects from water filled lungs.

Ice & Cold Weather Safety Tips

Each year, many residents are injured during the winter months as a result of pedestrian accidents and from exposure in cold water incidents. Skaters fall through the ice; boaters and canoeists overturn their crafts and pedestrians are struck walking in roadways because sidewalks are snow covered.

Here are a few general guidelines for use by winter recreation enthusiasts to lessen their chances for an icy dip or worse. It's impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance, thickness, daily temperature, or snow cover alone. Ice strength is also dependent on water depth under the ice, the size of the water and water chemistry, currents, and distribution of the load on the ice.

THE ONLY "SAFE" ICE IS AT A SKATING ARENA!

WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEONE FALLS THROUGH THE ICE?

Act quickly and call 9-1-1 for help immediately. Make sure properly trained and equipped rescue personnel are alerted to respond.

DO NOT go out onto the ice. Many times would-be rescuers become victims themselves.

Reach, Throw, or Row. Extend a branch, pole or ladder to the victim. Throw them a buoyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope. If a boat is nearby row out to the victim or push it toward them.

HOW COLD IS COLD WATER?

Any water that is cooler than normal body temperature (98.6 degrees F) is by definition "cold water"

Cold water drains away body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air!

The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia is the excessive lowering of body temperature. A drop n core temperature below 95 degrees F., causes shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and if not treated and reversed leads to unconsciousness and death.

Safety experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the fatal effects of hypothermia and cold water, not the fatal effects from water filled lungs.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Slippery driveways and sidewalks can be particularly hazardous in the winter. Keep them well shoveled, and apply materials such as rock salt or sand to improve traction.

Be especially careful crossing the street and wear appropriate shoes and brightly colored (not white) clothing while walking in snowy conditions.

Use reflective clothing or stickers for maximum protection, especially at dawn and dusk.