Don’t Let the Frigid Temperatures Leave You Cold

There’s more to staying warm than wearing heavy clothing.

The American Red Cross offers these safety tips for cold weather:

• Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.

• Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.

• Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including: numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.

• Don’t forget your pets – bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

• Avoid frozen pipes: Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. (Move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children.) Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.

• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid a more costly repair job if your pipes freeze and burst.

You can download the American Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. The free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. 

Patient First also provided winter safety tips in a blog it had posted on Patch.