While the thought of getting snow may be exciting, winter weather can pose serious health and safety hazards at home and while on the road. During this time of the year, threatening winter weather — heavy snow, ice storms and extreme cold — could occur at any time.
The good news is that you can be ready for winter emergencies if you plan ahead and prepare now. There are many ways you can prepare before a winter storm hits, which include being informed, creating a safety plan and taking action when severe weather hits.
Exposure to cold weather for long periods of time can be extremely dangerous and may lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Frostbite is a serious injury to a body part frozen from exposure to the cold. Fingers, toes and ears are the most commonly affected. Symptoms include pain, redness, numbness, and waxy or pale skin. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature is lower than normal. Symptoms may include confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, unusual behavior, shallow breathing and drowsiness.
People who are at greater risk of frostbite and hypothermia are infants, people with chronic heart and lung problems, seniors and people with serious mental illness or developmental disabilities. Everyone should take steps to protect themselves and others by:
» Staying indoors as much as possible during periods of extreme cold.
» Wearing hats, gloves and extra layers of loose-fitting clothing to stay warm.
» Identifying a warm place to stay if your home loses heat.
» Check on friends, neighbors and family members.
» Service providers should check on clients, especially those without nearby friends or family.
Ice storms and heavy snow can lead to extended power outages, create hazardous driving conditions and disrupt access to basic services. To protect yourself and others from the impact of ice and heavy storms, you should:
» Avoid driving during ice and heavy snowstorms. If you have to drive, be sure to have an emergency kit, flares and a blanket in your car in case of an accident.
» Build emergency supply kits for your home to meet your needs for at least three full days. Include sanitation and pet supplies, prescription medication, water and food.
» Never use gas stoves, generators or kerosene space heaters indoors or near your home. If you use a fireplace or wood stove, ensure the damper is open for ventilation.
» If you are unable to leave your home and have lost heat, you can hang blankets over windows and in doorways to insulate one or two rooms in your home. Stay in these rooms until power and heat are restored.
Finally, create a plan for you and your family to follow, should a severe winter weather event occur. Good plans include:
» Out-of-town emergency contacts.
» Where you will meet if you can’t return home.
» How to meet the needs of those who may require electricity to operate medical devices or need to travel for dialysis.
Kathryn W. Goodman is public information officer for the Thomas Jefferson Health District. Ryan McKay is emergency coordinator for the Thomas Jefferson Health District.
VITAL SIGNS
This column, which promotes community health, is sponsored by Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Region Ten Community Services Board, Thomas Jefferson Health District and the University of Virginia Health System.
