The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri is offering up cold weather safety tips as temperatures take a dive.
“Extreme cold is something we face here every winter,” said Angie Springs, Ex. Dir. of the Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross. “Even though it can be dangerous, just following a handful of safety tips can keep us safe.”
Cold Weather Tips
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and hat will help prevent loss of body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia – confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If people have these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy-feeling skin.
- Bring pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to stay warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface, and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If you heat with a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.