Just like tornados, extremely cold temperatures can cause damage to the local infrastructure and special considerations should be made.

• Minimize travel and try to give your self more time to reach your destination to accommodate driving slower.
• Limit your exposure to the extreme cold. Wear layers of dry, warm clothing.
• Keep extra clothing or jackets in your vehicle if you must travel.
• Check tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defroster, battery, etc.
• Learn how to shut off your water and protect pipes with insulation.
• Check on the elderly, neighbors and family.
• Don’t forget about outside pets! If possible bring them inside during the nights or make sure they can stay warm and dry.

Although rare in our area, should wintery precipitation occur, you should have a winter emergency kit. Plan on only traveling only if needed and know how to recognize black-ice. Keep extra water on hand should any pipes burst. Let hot and cold water trickle or drip at night from a faucet. Ensure that should a power outage occur, you still have means of staying warm.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is the cause of at least 1,500 deaths a year in the United States. It is more common in older people and males. Recognizing the signs and symptoms and save someone’s life.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F . Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F.

When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work normally. Left untreated, hypothermia can lead to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and eventually to death.

Other symptoms of hypothermia may include:

• Slurred speech or mumbling
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Weak pulse
• Clumsiness or lack of coordination
• Drowsiness or very low energy
• Confusion or memory loss
• Loss of consciousness
• Bright red, cold skin (in infants)

If you or someone near you is experiencing any of these symptoms, ensure they have warm, dry clothing and seek shelter in a warm environment if conditions don’t improve shorty, call 9-1-1 immediately!