5 cold-weather health hazards,

and how to stay safe

THE WEATHER

1. What is HYPOTHERMIA? • A. Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls

below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Determine this by taking your temperature. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Get medical attention immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY. Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities. Warming extremities first drives the cold blood to the heart and can cause the body temperature to drop further--which may lead to heart failure. Get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any HOT beverage or food. WARM broth and food is better. About 20% of cold related deaths occur in the home. Young children under the age of two and the elderly, those more than 60 years of age, are most susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia can set in over a period of time. Keep the thermostat above 69 degrees Fahrenheit, wear warm clothing, eat food for warmth, and drink plenty of water (or fluids other than alcohol) to keep hydrated.

• NOTE: Alcohol will lower your body temperature.

2. Colds and flu• Each year, adults get an average of about three colds every year, and 1 in 5

adults will get the flu. Although colds and flu aren’t specific to cold-weather months, they're both more prevalent during winter. One Welsh study suggests that cold temperatures can actually lead to a cold by limiting the supply of infection-fighting white blood cells in the nasal passage, where cold viruses most often enter the body. And research shows that the flu virus is more stable and stays in the air longer when air is cold and dry.

• What to watch for: It’s often difficult to know whether you have a cold or the flu, because the symptoms can be similar. At the onset of a cold, you may feel a dry, scratchy sore throat, sneezing, a headache, runny nose with watery mucus, watery eyes, chills, and a fever. Later symptoms can include a blocked nose, sinus pain, a cough that keep you awake at night, muscle aches and pains, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Flu symptoms are normally worse than and come on more quickly than cold symptoms and include a fever of about 100 degrees to 104 degrees F, a dry cough, muscle aches, headache, a stopped up nose, sore throat, and feeling extremely tired.

• Stay-safe tips: With a cold, you may feel quite sick for a couple of days, but your symptoms should clear up in a week to 10 days. And most people recover from the flu within a week. Of course, both will very likely need to be treated by medicines. There’s no cure for a cold, but taking cold medicines may help lessen your symptoms while your body fights off the virus. Take a look at our recommendations for what cold medicines work best. (subscribers only). Be sure to steer clear of antibiotics--they don't work for viruses and they have side effects. For flu, a flu shot will help your body fight off the flu virus, but if you already have the virus, the CDC recommends zanamivir (Relenza), an inhaled drug, for treating seasonal flu in people age 7 and older or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantadine.

3. Frostbite • Frostbite can cause a loss of feeling and color in the

affected areas, such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage body tissue, and severe cases can lead to amputation. In extremely cold temperatures, the risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and when people are not dressed properly.

• What to watch for: Signs of frostbite include reduced blood flow to hands and feet (fingers or toes can freeze), numbness, tingling or stinging, aching, and bluish or pail, waxy skin.

• Stay-safe tips: To prevent frostbite, wear warm clothing and dress in layers when you plan to be outdoors for an extended amount of time, and keep dry (wet clothes increase chance of heat loss). If you notice the signs of frostbite, get into a warm room as soon as possible. Immerse the affected area in warm water or warm it area using body heat. Avoid rubbing or massaging the frostbitten area; doing so may cause more damage. And do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming since affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

4. Depression • About 5 percent of Americans, three-quarters of them

women, experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) each year, a type of depression that typically occurs during the cold-weather months.

• Signs to watch for: Some symptoms are similar to those associated with other types of depression: sadness, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, social withdrawal, and trouble concentrating. But people with SAD also tend to move slowly, crave carbohydrates, and gain weight. And they're less likely than people with conventional depression to have feelings of worthlessness or thoughts of suicide.

• Stay-safe tips: If suspect you’re suffering from SAD, the nonprofit Center for Environmental Therapeutics has an online questionnaire that can help you determine whether you have it. For mild cases, doing 60 minutes of outdoor aerobic exercise in the morning might bring some relief. For more persistent cases, talk to our doctor about therapies, including light therapy and antidepressant. Other treatment options include cognitive-behavioral therapy, in which you learn to ward off negative thoughts about the season and work on finding enjoyable activities. That kind of therapy might also help prevent a recurrence.

5. Heart Attacks

• It’s true that there are numerous risk factors for heart attack, including having high cholesterol, being male, and smoking cigarettes, but did you know heart attacks are more common in winter? This may be because cold snaps increase blood pressure and put more strain on the heart. Also, your heart also has to work harder to maintain body heat when it's cold.

• What to watch for: The warning signs for a heart attack include, chest pain (though not always), shortness of breath, sudden fatigue or dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, blue tinge to your skin.

• Stay-safe tips: Bundle up outside and take it easy when exerting yourself in the cold to help prevent a heart attack. If the symptoms we mentioned above strike, don’t ignore them;

• call 911 immediately.

• Winter can be a wonderful time of year for those who choose to embrace it, but there are potential dangers associated with cold weather and we would all do well to remind ourselves of them. When the icy blasts of winter arrive, many people tend to stay indoors and adopt a more inactive lifestyle than perhaps they should. By 'hibernating,' we're exposing ourselves to greater risk because our hearts need regular exercise to remain healthy

• An Italian study in 2008 revealed a significant increase in heart attack admissions to hospital with the arrival of colder weather. Another study noted that a 10-degree drop in temperature increases the risk of a recurrent heart attack by 38%. Winter weather alone can constrict blood vessels, making the heart work harder, and the additional strain of strenuous activity - shoveling snow, for example - may trigger a heart attack. 

• People with known heart problems or who are in poor physical shape and/or have a family history of heart disease should consult their doctor before engaging in strenuous activities.

• Seasonal colds and the flu can also increase the burden on our hearts, as can stress associated with the holidays. If you are going to shovel snow or undertake some form of strenuous activity, avoid having a full stomach as it can cause further strain on the heart. Warm up your muscles with some basic stretches before beginning shoveling or other activities, and take a breather from time to time.

Cold Weather Hazards and Injuries

Flooding• Flash floods and floods are the

#1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms...more than 140 fatalities each year.

• Most flash flood fatalities occur at night and most victims are people who become trapped in automobiles.

• Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet: a depth of two feet will cause most vehicles to float.

Flash Flood Safety Rules

• Avoid walking, swimming, or diving in flood waters.

• Stay away from high water, storm drains, ditches, ravines, or culverts. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can knock you off your feet.

• If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around, and go another way. Climb to higher ground.

• Do not let children play near storm drains.

TORNADO SAFETY

What is a tornado watch?• A tornado watch defines an area

shaped like a parallelogram, where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours. It does not mean tornadoes are imminent -- just that you need to be alert, and to be prepared to go to safe shelter if tornadoes do happen or a warning is issued. This is the time to turn on local TV or radio, turn on and set the alarm switch on your weather radio, make sure you have ready access to safe shelter, and make your friends and family aware of the potential for tornadoes in the area

What is a tornado warning?

• A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado. When a tornado warning is issued for your town or county, take immediate safety precautions. Local news offices issue tornado warnings.

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all."

– Throughout this Web site, information has been provided regarding actions that you can take based on specific hurricane hazards. The most important thing that you can do is to be informed and prepared. Disaster prevention includes both being prepared as well as reducing damages (mitigation).

Disaster Prevention should include:• Developing a Family Plan

• Creating a Disaster Supply Kit • Having a Place to Go • Securing your Home

• Having a Pet Plan One of the most important decisions you will have to make is "Should I Evacuate?"• If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. But unless you live in a coastal or

low-lying area, an area that floods frequently, or in manufactured housing, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate. That means that it is important for you and your family to HAVE A PLAN that makes you as safe as possible in your home.

• Disaster prevention includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm. The suggestions provided here are only guides. You should use common sense in your disaster prevention.

• Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.

• Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.

• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.

• Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.

• Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.• Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children

know how and when to call 911.• Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by

homeowners insurance.• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit. • Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you

do with your smoke detectors.• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

• Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days• Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days

— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices— foods for infants or the elderly— snack foods— non-electric can opener— cooking tools / fuel— paper plates / plastic utensils

• Blankets / Pillows, etc.• Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes• First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs• Special Items - for babies and the elderly• Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes• Flashlight / Batteries• Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio• Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set• Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods• Keys• Toys, Books and Games• Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resalable plastic bag

— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.• Tools - keep a set with you during the storm• Vehicle fuel tanks filled• Pet care items

— proper identification / immunization records / medications— ample supply of food and water— a carrier or cage— muzzle and leash

Creating a Disaster Supply Kit

• Develop a family hurricane preparedness plan before an actual storm threatens your area. If your family hurricane preparedness plan includes evacuation to a safer location for any of the reasons specified with in this web site, then it is important to consider the following points:

• If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay your departure. If possible, leave before local officials issue an evacuation order for your area. Even a slight delay in starting your evacuation will result in significantly longer travel times as traffic congestion worsens.

• Select an evacuation destination that is nearest to your home, preferably in the same county, or at least minimize the distance over which you must travel in order to reach your intended shelter location. In choosing your destination, keep in mind that the hotels and other sheltering options in most inland metropolitan areas are likely to be filled very quickly in a large, multi-county hurricane evacuation event.

• If you decide to evacuate to another county or region, be prepared to wait in traffic. The large number of people in this state who must evacuate during a hurricane will probably cause massive delays and major congestion along most designated evacuation routes; the larger the storm, the greater the probability of traffic jams and extended travel times.

• If possible, make arrangements to stay with the friend or relative who resides closest to your home and who will not have to evacuate. Discuss with your intended host the details of your family evacuation plan well before the beginning of the hurricane season.

• If a hotel or motel is your final intended destination during an evacuation, make reservations before you leave. Most hotel and motels will fill quickly once evacuations begin. The longer you wait to make reservations, even if an official evacuation order has not been issued for your area or county, the less likely you are to find hotel/motel room vacancies, especially along interstate highways and in major metropolitan areas.

• If you are unable to stay with friends or family and no hotels/motels rooms are available, then as a last resort go to a shelter.  Remember, shelters are not designed for comfort and do not usually accept pets.  Bring your disaster supply kit with you to the shelter. Find Pet-Friendly hotels and motels.

• Make sure that you fill up your car with gas, before you leave.

RETROFITTING YOUR HOMEThe most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. According to recent wind technology research, it's important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. You can do this by protecting and reinforcing these five critical areas:

ROOF | STRAPS | SHUTTERS | DOORS | GARAGE DOORS

• A great time to start securing - or retrofitting - your house is when you are making other improvements or adding an addition.  

• Remember: building codes reflect the lessons experts have learned from past catastrophes. Contact the local building code official to find out what requirements are necessary for your home improvement projects.

FLOOD INSURANCEThe National Flood Insurance Program, is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program designed to reduce the escalating cost of disasters. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners

• Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.  Do not make assumptions.  Check your policy.

BEFORE THE DISASTER• Make sure that your pets are current on their vaccinations.  Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines. • Have a current photograph • Keep a collar with identification on your pet and have a leash on hand to control your pet. • Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal - carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand  and turn around. • Plan your evacuation strategy and don't forget your pet!  Specialized pet shelters, animal control shelters, veterinary clinics and friends and relatives

out of harm's way are ALL potential refuges for your pet during a disaster. • If you plan to shelter your pet - work it into your evacuation route planning.  DURING THE DISASTER• Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have:  Proper identification collar and rabies tag, proper identification on all belongings, a carrier or

cage, a leash, an ample supply of food, water and food bowls, any necessary medications, specific care instructions and news papers or trash bags for clean-up.

• Bring pets indoor well in advance of a storm - reassure them and remain calm. • Pet shelters will be filled on first come, first served basis.  Call ahead and determine availability.  AFTER THE DISASTER• Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home - often familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and pets could easily be

confused and become lost.  Also, downed power lines, reptiles brought in with high water and debris can all pose a threat for animals after a disaster. • If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered.  Bring along a picture

of your pet if possible. • After a disaster animals can become aggressive or defensive - monitor their behavior. • Don't forget your pet when preparing a family disaster plan.  PET DISASTER SUPPLY KIT• • Proper identification including immunization records

• Ample supply of food and water• A carrier or cage• Medications• Muzzle, collar and leash