The coldest air of the winter season is moving into Southeastern Michigan soon, making this a good time to prepare and review some important safety tips to keep you and your family safe.
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Dress properly for the cold
Limit your time outside as much as possible. If you have to spend any amount of time outdoors, dress in layers of loose-fitting clothing, wear a hat, and be sure to cover your mouth with a scarf or other outdoor gear to protect your lungs from the extreme cold weather. Mittens, snug at the wrist, will keep your hands warmer than gloves during extreme cold. A thin base-layer can do wonders to keep you warm and comfortable.
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Know your limits when shoveling
If you are not in good physical condition, smoke, have underlying health issues, or are over the age of 65, consider having someone else shovel your driveway/walkway if possible. If you must shovel outside, don’t over-exert yourself and take frequent breaks. Also pay close attention to the following information about hypothermia and frostbite, which even healthy people can experience in extreme winter weather.
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Extremely cold weather can lead to hypothermia and frostbite
If you are outside for any length of time and notice a tingling sensation on your hands or feet, that is the first sign of possible frost nip, which is not serious, but should be a sign to go inside.
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If the tingling doesn’t stop right away, run lukewarm (not hot) water over the affected area until the sensation subsides. Hypothermia can occur if you are outside for an extended period of time and are not dressed properly. Signs of hypothermia include: confusion, drowsiness, pale and cold skin, and/or slowed breathing or heart rate.
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If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, get inside immediately, remove any wet or tight clothing and warm up with a blanket. If symptoms persist, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency medical facility immediately.
Frostbite is skin damage caused when the skin and underlying tissues freeze from cold temperatures. You can get frostbite if your skin is exposed, or even if it is covered by gloves or other clothing in freezing cold, and windy or wet conditions,
Wind chills in the minus 30 range — which is expected in some areas of michigan this week — can lead to frostbite in 15 minutes. This chart from the National Weather Service shows how quickly frostbite can set it with low wind chills:
Care for your pets
Some pets can tolerate cold better than others, and may even enjoy it, but during extreme cold weather, limit their outside time as much as possible. If you have a dog, make sure that nails are trimmed so that they can grip better on the snow and ice. Be aware that some surfaces may have been salted, and if so, wipe their paws off when you come back in the house.