Tips for Extreme Cold Temperatures

Do you know how to deal with extreme cold temperatures? 

Winter weather can be brutal, and prioritizing safety over style is crucial. Hypothermia, frostbite, and home hazards pose serious threats. This post will guide you on how to stay safe and warm this winter.

Dress for the weather – forget about fashion

1. Dress in layers: The number one word of advice for staying warm and avoiding frostbite or hypothermia is dressing properly in loose-fitting layers. When you dress in layers, the air between each of those layers will become warm from your body heat – which in turn keeps you warmer. 
2. Ensure your hands, feet and face are completely covered: Mittens tend to keep your hands warmer than gloves.
3. Breathing in cold air can damage the delicate lining of your lungs:  Cold, dry air can be a concern for those with lung disease. When outside, cover your mouth with a scarf, neck warmer or mask to breathe in warmer air. 

What are the signs of frostbite and hypothermia?

Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes.

• Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
• Treat frostbite: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad. Seek medical care if normal sensations don't return within 30 minutes

Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.

• Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness
• Treat hypothermia: Call 9-1-1. Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Playing it safe around the house

Insulate your pipes

If you have pipes in uninsulated areas around your home, like the garage or crawl space, make sure you cover them properly. This means wrapping them with an insulating material, such as a foam tube or heat tape. 

Safely use space heaters

During this type of weather, you may be more apt to use space heaters. Make sure to keep them some feet away from furniture, curtains, drapes, and other soft materials that could become a fire hazard. 

Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning

According to Consumers Energy, a Michigan-based public utility company, carbon monoxide poisoning is "most prevalent in the winter" when people use furnaces with windows and doors closed. Make sure you have audible carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout your house. If you already have alarms, make sure they have fresh batteries.

Keep your pets warm

It’s also important to remember your pets and livestock during the cold weather. Bring your pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.