Winter Cold Weather Advisory Continues

IRONWOOD, MI - Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, "The Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect until noon CST today. A wind chill warning remains in effect until noon CST today."

The 4:00 AM CST report says, "Expect northwest winds gusting as high as 45 mph this morning to drop wind chills to 35 to 45 below zero and cause areas of blowing snow. Plan on reduced visibility as low as one quarter mile at times in open areas. The winds will diminish to 15 to 25 mph this afternoon... moderating wind chills to 20 to 25 below and diminishing the blowing snow."

"A wind chill warning means the combination of very cold air and strong winds will create dangerously low wind chill values. This will result in frost bite and lead to hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken."

The Marquette NWS advises, "A Winter Weather Advisory means strong winds and blowing snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities... and use caution while driving."

SCHOOLS CLOSED - ACTIVITIES CANCELED

Nearly every school and many community activities in the U.P. and throughout northern Wisconsin have been canceled due to the extreme weather conditions today. Most high school sporting events have been postponed.

SEVERE WEATHER RISKS

Extremely cold weather conditions pose special risks to babies and toddlers, seniors, sportsmen, travelers, and pets. It's important to take precautionary measures to avoid serious problems that cold weather may cause.

AVOIDING FROSTBITE

Perhaps the biggest concern when the temperature dips below zero is frostbite. Many people don't realize that certain medications can make people more vulnerable to frostbite. Other conditions that can lead to frostbite include: wet clothing, drinking alcoholic beverages, poor blood circulation, being tired or weak, or extreme wind chill.

Your body gives off signals that indicate the presence of frostbite. You must be fully aware of these symptoms so that you can take precautions to prevent damage. A tingling sensation on your nose, ears, and appendages as well as red skin is a sign of early stage frostbite. Middle stage frostbite results in whitened skin. In severe cases, hard skin, blisters, and blackened tissue may result.

It's important to warm the skin gradually if you become frostbitten. Rubbing the traumatized area can cause more damage than doing nothing. To prevent damage to your fingertips, put them under your armpits. To prevent damage to your ears, cover them.

PREVENTING HYPOTHERMIA

When the body's core temperature drops, the condition is known as "hypothermia." Unlike frostbite, which happens rather quickly, hypothermia occurs slowly over several hours of exposure to cold. People don't realize that such exposure can result in coma or even death. There is a increased risk when you are wearing wet clothing or being immersed in cold water for any length of time.

Many times people dismiss serious hypothermia symptoms as simply as "being cold." There are a number of signs to watch out for. Mental confusion, loss of coordination, a puffiness in the face, slurred speech, low pulse rate, stiff muscles and loss of bladder control are all signs of hypothermia. If you experience any of these signs, call 911 immediately and seek medical attention or get to an emergency room as soon as possible.

To prevent hypothermia and frostbite:

1. Wear a hat, mittens (or gloves), and layered clothing. Layered clothing creates air pockets that act as insulation. Although coats and jackets filled with either down or fiber do a good job of trapping air, it's better to have layers that can be removed as you become more active. It's a good idea to wear sock liners or several pair of socks to keep moisture away from the feet. Several layers on the legs is also important. Too many times, people bundle up their upper body and wear next to nothing on their legs. Mittens are better than gloves for keeping hands warm. Choppers with liners are very good also. People don't realize how important a hat is when trying to stay warm. The head releases a lot of body heat.

2. Drink plenty of water and other nonalcoholic beverages like coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and soup; it will help keep body temperature stable.

KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE

Space heaters can cause serious problems. Every year homes are lost because of fires due to area heaters. Keep all draperies and combustibles away from any heating devices.

CO (carbon monoxide) poisoning is another worry when it comes to certain area or space heaters.

CO is odorless and very deadly. It builds up in your blood stream gradually causing nausea and headaches. If exposure continues it can cause coma or even death. The best rule is DO NOT USE SPACE HEATERS! But if you do, use caution. Here are some other tips to insure home safety in bitter cold weather:

1. Have your furnace and heating appliances checked every year to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home. Do not use your dryer, outdoor grill, garaged vehicle or oven as a heating source. Keep your furnace area free of debris and clutter. Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and check already-existing detectors often.

2. Don't use a gas oven to heat your house, even if your household heat goes out. Gas ovens are not meant to be home heating devices. They may go out or not burn efficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.

3. If you buy a kerosene heater, make sure it has a low center of gravity to avoid tip-overs. Keep small children away from the heater and tell them not to touch it. Do not use flammable solvents or sprays in the same room, since kerosene heaters use an open flame. Never leave a heater on when unattended. And most importantly, before using any heater, carefully read and follow all safety directions.

OTHER SURVIVAL TIPS FOR COLD-WEATHER

1. Keep an eye on senior friends, family and neighbors.

2. Use extra precautions when traveling our doing outdoor activities. Let friends and family know you are traveling and where exactly you will be going. Keep a first aid kit on hand. Keep a sleeping bag rated for cold-weather camping in your car. Bring snacks with you - nuts, seeds, trail mix, beef jerky, dried fruits, or candy. Take along extra water, and a thermos with either hot chocolate, coffee, or soup to maintain your core body temperature.

3. You need to be physically fit in order to shovel your own sidewalks and driveway. Each and every year people over-exert themselves shoveling.

4. Dogs and cats that normally live outside can cope with cold weather much better than those that usually live indoors. However, outdoor animals need a shelter that has adequate room for the animal to stand, sit, turn around and lie down in, and dry bedding. An oversized shelter is bad because the animal's body heat is lost. It's important to keep outdoor pets well fed during cold weather. When weather is extreme, let your dog or cat in the house!