Very Cold! Tips and Tricks

Today was the first super cold day for this winter season.

Below are some tips to deal with cold weather.

Think of shivering as a warning sign that you need to get yourself someplace warmer, fast. When your skin temperature drops, shivering kicks in to keep your core temperature from falling, too. The spasmodic contracting and relaxing of your muscles “consumes calories, and it generates heat” to replace the heat your body is losing through convection or conduction, 

You lose heat through conduction whenever your body comes into direct contact with something cold, like when you sit on the chilly ground. Wind steals your body heat through convection. But you can insulate yourself against both types of heat loss by wearing layers.

Some winter weather tips to help you get through a severe stretch of cold:

• Stay indoors during the storm.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. It’s a serious workout, and going at it too hard can bring on a heart attack − a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
• Stay dry. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits the cold rapidly.

Bundle Up

It might seem obvious, but piling on a few extra layers is a great way to stay warm, especially if you have to be outside. Keeping your core warm is especially important when temperatures dip below freezing, so try wearing an extra shirt or two under your coat.

Dressing in layers is key, as it not only keeps you warm but allows you to adjust to changing temperatures. Proper gloves, socks and footwear are essential. Choose headwear that keeps your head and ears warm. 

Worried about looking bulky? Many sporting goods companies make cold-weather gear that is slim enough to be worn even under work clothes.

Prepare your home

Some tips to brace your home for a winter storm:

• Clean out the gutters, disconnect and drain all outside hoses. If possible, shut off outside water valves.
• Insulate walls and attics, and caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
• Repair roof leaks and remove tree branches that could get weighed down with ice or snow and fall on your house – or your neighbor’s. (Avoid liability for the latter.)
• Wrap water pipes in your basement or crawl spaces with insulation sleeves to slow heat transfer.
• Consider an insulated blanket for your hot water heater.
• If you have a fireplace, keep the flue closed when you’re not using it.
• Have a contractor check your roof to see if it would sustain the weight of a heavy snowfall.
• Make sure your furniture isn’t blocking your home’s heating vents.
• During cold spells, keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes, particularly those in the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces.
• If your house will be unattended during cold periods, consider draining the water system.
• Avoid ice dams – where water from melted snow refreezes in the gutters and seeps in under the roof, soaking interior walls.
• Here’s how:
• Ventilate your attic.
• Insulate the attic floor well to minimize the amount of heat rising through the attic from within the house.
• Consider having a water-repellent membrane installed under your roof covering.
• 

Sorry: Alcohol Decreases Core Temperatures 

Although alcoholic beverages might make you feel warm, they actually decrease your core temperature and can be dangerous during winter months. 

According to The New York Times and a study by Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, alcohol reverses some reflexes that control body temperature, especially the body’s ability to shiver. Alcohol can also make you sweat, even when it is cold, which can lower core temperatures even more.

PLAN BREAKS FROM THE COLD

Just like you need to take breaks from your work throughout the day, your body needs to take breaks from the cold. Plan warm-up times throughout your day to avoid numbness and shivers.

 “Three-Feet Rule”

Space heaters are a great way to add extra heat to colder rooms, but always remember to keep anything flammable at least three feet away from the heater at all times.

Flammable items include clothing, rugs, bedding, and curtains. Also remember to place the heater on a hard, non-flammable, stable surface and to turn it off completely before leaving the house. Set a reminder on your phone if you’re afraid you’ll forget.

Don’t Warm Up Your Car While It’s Unattended

Although letting your car heat up before you get in, can be tempting, leaving your car running when you’re not around it offers the perfect opportunity for thieves to steal it.

Prepare your car

According to the Department of Transportation, 22% of all vehicle crashes in the U.S. – and 16% of the fatalities – are due to severe weather such as rain, snow, sleet, and ice.  So, prepare your car for treacherous conditions and extremely cold temperatures – and know what to do if you find yourself stranded in a vehicle. When the temperatures start to drop:

• Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, travel during the day.
• Don’t travel alone. Keep others informed of your schedule.
• Stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts.
• Top off antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, gas, oil, and other fluids.
• Make sure your tires have enough tread. Consider snow tires.
• Keep bagged salt or sand in the trunk for extra traction and to melt ice.
• Clear snow from the top of the car, headlights, and windows.
• Save the numbers for your auto club, insurance agent and towing service into your cell phone.
• Keep a cold-weather kit in your trunk. It should include a blanket or sleeping bag, gloves, hard candy, bottled water, folding shovel, first aid kit, flashlight, and cell phone charger.

Pets Are Cold Too!

The Humane Society of Missouri offered these tips to make sure both indoor and outdoor pets stay healthy throughout winter.

1. Bring pets inside: Pets can get hypothermia and frostbite, just like people.
2. Provide a cozy space: If pets are going to be left outside, make sure there’s a comfortable, warm space insulated from the wind and cold. The Humane Society of Missouri said to keep an eye on your pets’ behavior. If they start whining, shivering or seem anxious or weak, bring them inside immediately because they could be suffering from hypothermia.
3. Check your pet’s paws: Cold weather can damage your pet’s paws. Look for cracked paw pads or bleeding. Also, make sure to clean your pet’s paws after being outside. Salt and other products used to melt ice and snow can irritate paw pads. Paw booties are an option if your pet needs to walk outside.
4. Layer up: If your pet has a thinner coat, he or she might need a sweater or coat. Just make sure the extra layer isn’t wet—a wet coat or sweater can make your dog even colder.
5. Prevent poisoning: Clean up antifreeze spills or buildup whenever you notice them. Pets might like the way it smells and tastes, but it’s poisonous. If your pet eats antifreeze, call your vet immediately.
6. Get a checkup: Cold weather can make certain medical conditions like arthritis worse. If your pet hasn’t been to the vet for its yearly checkup, now is a perfect time. 

Make sure to drink enough fluids, as you dehydrate faster in cold weather conditions. Dehydration causes headaches, dizziness and fatigue, and it’s important to stay alert outdoors. Eating enough food during the day, especially fats and carbohydrates, is also important. Your body uses those nutrients as energy to stay warm in cold temperatures.

Working in cold conditions isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous. Frostbite, numbness, dehydration and hypothermia are real concerns from chilly outdoor weather. If you’re working outdoors this winter, be aware of the dangers and stay safe.

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