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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.