Winter Safety Tips

Photo from firstaidsuppliesblog.com

Judging by all the pictures on social media, it looks like a lot of you have had the opportunity to enjoy all the snow that fell Monday.  And I have a feeling that all this snow will be overstaying its welcome due to the dangerously cold temperatures. 

Whether you are outside by choice or because you have no other option, be sure to follow these guidelines recommended by the CDC: Dress warmly and stay dry.  Wear a hat, scarf, and mittens.  Avoid frostbite.  If you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly.  Avoid walking on ice or getting wet.  Notify friends and family where you will be before you go outdoors to travel, do outdoor chores or go riding.  Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.  If you are stranded, it is safest to stay in your car.  

If you plan to be outside, I recommend wearing the following when possible: a hat, a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, sleeves that are snug at the wrist, mittens or gloves, water-resistant coat and boots, several layers of loose-fitting clothing.  Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.

Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.  When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.

For those of you that must be on the roads the CDC makes the following recommendations for traveling:  Listen for radio or television reports of travel advisories issued by the National Weather Service.  Do not travel in low visibility conditions.  Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible. Take a mobile phone with you but do not use it while driving.  If you must travel, let someone know your destination, when you expect to arrive and ask them to notify authorities if you are late.  Check and restock the winter emergency supplies in your car before you leave.  Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow; shattering may occur.  Don’t rely on a car to provide sufficient heat; the car may break down.  Always carry additional warm clothing appropriate for the winter conditions.

Also, if possible please bring your animals indoors.  Your livestock will require more water since their bodies are working overtime to keep them warm so be sure to have an adequate supply for them. 

For more information on winter safety and cold stress on livestock, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

           

Upcoming Extension Events

Feb 24^th           Tobacco Update 10am and GAP Training 1pm, Extension Office

Feb 25^th           Pesticide Certification, 9am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Community & Economic Development Workshops 10am, Extension Office

Feb 26^th           Farmers’ Market Meeting, Extension Office, 4pm

Feb 26^th           Alfalfa Conference, Cave City

Feb 27th          Round Table Series, 8am Economics of Tiling and Control Drainage Structures
March 4^th         IPM Training, Princeton Research Station, 9am

March 5^th         Forages & Grazing Meeting, 5pm-8pm, Extension Office

March 6^th         Round Table Series, 8am Pond Management, Dr. Bill Wurts

March 13^th       Round Table Series, 8am Poultry Litter as Fertilizer, Dr. Edwin Ritchey

March 17^th       Plant Swap Planning Meeting, 3pm, Extension Office

March 24^th       District Board Meeting, 6pm, Extension Office