Cold weather is here to stay for a few months – keep your guard up against cold weather injury.
Keep your body temperature at or about normal (98.6° F)
- Wear layers of clothing both inside and outdoors
- Wear cotton or lightweight wool next to the skin and wool layers over your underwear
- Keep dry by having proper rain gear available and a pair of good, waterproof boots
- An extra pair of clean, dry socks can really come in handy
- Don’t forget to protect your neck and ears; you can lose a lot of heat from these two areas
- A good pair of gloves is essential
Signs of frostbite
- Skin will become white
- Reduced circulation
- In the worst case, blisters will form but you won’t feel any pain
First aid for frostbite
- NEVER rub the frozen part of the body with snow
- Add extra clothing or use a blanket to cover the frozen area
- Get out of the cold and into a warm location
- The frozen area may be immersed in warm water but NEVER use hot water
- If the condition does not improve seek professional medical attention
Portable heaters
- If they are not properly maintained they can cause accidents
- Carbon monoxide can result from defective ventilating and from incomplete fuel burn
- All portable heaters should be checked by a competent person before being put into use
- Locate fuel containers, regulators, piping and hose where they will not be subject to damage
- LP gas containers not in use should be stored upright, in a specified outside location and protected against damage
- Containers in use must be kept in an upright position and secured
- Always be sure to protect the valves from physical damage