MercyOne Winter Weather Safety Tips
The current Winter Storm Warning for the Midwest region is the perfect time to review Winter Safety Tips.
A winter storm can mean extended interruptions of power and heat in your home. Here are tips from MercyOne emergency department physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay safe and comfortable in severe winter weather.
Hypothermia
Overexposure to cold temperatures or cold water can be deadly. Here are some tips for treating overexposure:
Warning signs:
Confusion or sleepiness; slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing; weak pulse or low blood pressure;
a behavior change; severe shivering or no shivering; poor control over body movements or slow reactions.
What to do:
Get the victim into a warm room or shelter; remove clothes from the victim if they are wet; warm the
center of the body first – chest, neck, head, groin – using an electric blanket if one is available; use skin-
to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels; give warm beverages; get medical
attention as soon as possible; if the victim is unconscious, CPR may be necessary.
Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. In the earliest stage of frostbite, known
as frostnip, the skin has no permanent damage.
Signs: A white or grayish-yellow area on the skin; skin that feels unusually firm or “waxy’’; numbness.
What to do: Get medical care; if there is no sign of hypothermia or medical care is not available, get the
person into a warm room as soon as possible; do not walk or use frostbitten extremities; immerse injured
area in warm water; warm injured area with body heat; don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp or heat of a
stove, fireplace or radiator because injured areas can be quickly burned.
Carbon Monoxide Danger
Warning signs of exposure: In low concentrations, fatigue in healthy
people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations,
impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea. Flu-like symptoms that
diminish with exposure to fresh air are a warning sign. Exposure to very high concentrations can be fatal.
Prevention: Keep gas appliances properly adjusted; use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters; open
flues when fireplaces are in use; do not idle the car inside a garage; choose appropriately sized wood
stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards; make sure that doors on all wood stoves fit
tightly; have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up central heating systems; do not use
outdoor grills for heat or cooking inside your home; do not run gas-powered generators in your home.
In Your Home
Plan an alternative heat source for your home during a power outage — secure dry wood for a
fireplace or wood stove or kerosene for a kerosene heater. Do not use outdoor grills for heat or cooking inside your home.
Put together an emergency box. An emergency box should have blankets and sleeping bags; matches; dry-chemical fire extinguisher; first-aid kit and instruction manual; candles; flashlight or battery-powered
lantern; battery-powered radio; battery-powered clock or watch; extra batteries; non-electric can opener;
snow shovel; rock salt; games, playing cards, and books; special needs items (diapers, hearing aid
batteries, medications); food items that do not require cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers,
cereal, canned foods; water stored in clean containers (at least five gallons per person).