Winter Safety Awareness
While winter weather dangers vary across the country, nearly all Americans are likely to face some type of severe
winter weather. Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-
driven snow that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and
sometimes by strong winds, ice, sleet and freezing rain. Seniors are most likely to require assistance, and sometimes
monitoring, in the colder months.
Know the Terms
†
Familiarize yourself with these terms to
help identify a winter storm hazard:
Freezing Rain
-
Rain that freezes when it
hits the ground, creating a coating of ice
on roads, walkways, trees and power lines.
Sleet
-
Rain that turns to ice pellets before
reaching the ground. Sleet also causes
moisture on roads to freeze and become
slippery.
Winter Weather Advisory
-
Winter
weather conditions are expected to cause
significant inconveniences and may be
hazardous. When caution is used, these
situations should not be life threatening.
Winter StormWatch
-
A winter storm is
possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA
Weather Radio, commercial radio, or
television for more information.
Winter StormWarning
-
A winter storm is
occurring or will soon occur in your area.
BlizzardWarning
-
Sustained winds or
frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or
greater and considerable amounts of
falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility
to less than a quarter mile) are expected
to prevail for a period of three hours or
longer.
Frost/FreezeWarning
-
Below freezing
temperatures are expected.
Hypothermia
Seniors often feel the cold more because of poor circulation and/or pre-existing respiratory conditions, but
there is one time when feeling the cold can be deadly
—
hypothermia, a serious lowering of the core body
temperature. ²
Fifty percent of hypothermia deaths occur in people over the age of 75, and even mildly cold temperatures
can be dangerous.
Warning signs of hypothermia include:
• Slowed breathing or heart rate
•
Cold skin that is pale or ashy
• Feeling tired and weak
•
Problems walking
•
Shivering
Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls below 95° F and requires immediate medical attention.
Anyone exhibiting symptoms should be wrapped in a warm blanket covering the body and head.
Administering warm fluids may help, but avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen the situation.
Frostbite
Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold. Frostbite is the most common
freezing injury. ²
Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissues are exposed to cold temperature for a long period of time.
You are more likely to develop frostbite if you:
• Take medicines called beta-blockers
•
Have diabetes
• Have poor blood supply to the legs
•
Smoke
• Have Raynaud’s phenomenon
Symptoms of frostbite include:
• Pins and needles feeling, followed by numbness
• Hard, pale, and cold skin that has been exposed to the cold for too long
• Aching, throbbing or lack of feeling in the affected area
• Red and extremely painful skin and muscle as the area thaws
Very severe frostbite may cause:
• Blisters
• Gangrene (blackened, dead tissue)
• Damage to tendons, muscles, nerves, and bone
Frostbite may affect any part of the body. The hands, feet, nose, and ears are the places most susceptible.
Take the following steps if you think someone might have frostbite:
• Shelter the person from the cold and move him or her to a warmer place. Remove any tight jewelry and wet clothes. Look
for signs of hypothermia (lowered body temperature) and treat that condition first.
• If medical help is not nearby, you may give the person rewarming first aid. Soak the affected areas in warm (never
hot) water -- for 20 to 30 minutes. For ears, nose, and cheeks, apply warm cloths soaked in 104° to 108° F water. Keep
circulating the water to aid the warming process. Severe burning pain, swelling, and color changes may occur during
warming. Warming is complete when the skin is soft and feeling returns.