- \n
- Stay indoors during extreme cold.<\/li>\n
- If you have to go outside, keep your trips brief and follow tips in this section.\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dress Warmly and Stay Dry when Working or Playing Outdoors:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Dress in layers and stay dry.<\/li>\n
- Wear a hat, scarf and mittens<\/li>\n
- Sleeves that are snug at the wrist.<\/li>\n
- Water-resistant coat and boots.<\/li>\n
- Several layers of loose-fitting clothing.\u00a0<\/u><\/li>\n
- Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce losing body-heat.\u00a0 Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.<\/li>\n
- Stay dry \u2013 wet clothing chills the body quickly.\u00a0 Excess sweat will increase heat loss too, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Monitor Body Temperature<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outdoors, can cause serious or life- threatening health problems.<\/li>\n
- The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Hypothermia (unusually low body temperature):<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- When you have hypothermia, it affects your brain and prevents you from thinking clearly or moving well.\u00a0 That is why hypothermia is so dangerous \u2013 you may not even know it is happening and won\u2019t be able to do anything about it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Hypothermia usually occurs at very cold temperatures, but can also happen even at cool temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat or grom being in cold water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Victims of hypothermia are most often:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Older people with too little food, clothing or heating;<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms;<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Children left unattended;<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Adults under the influence of alcohol;<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Individuals with emotional disabilities; and<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 People who remain outdoors for long periods.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hypothermia Warning Signs:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Adults:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Shivering\/Exhaustion<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Confusion\/Fumbling Hands<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Memory Loss\/Slurred Speech<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Drowsiness<\/p>\n
- \n
- Infants:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Bright red, cold skin<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Very low energy<\/p>\n
- \n
- If you think someone may have hypothermia, take their temperature.\u00a0 If it is below 95 degrees, get immediate medical attention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Frostbite (injury to the body caused by exposure to very cold temperatures):<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas.\u00a0 It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.\u00a0 Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Frostbite Warning Signs:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin \u2013 you may be getting frostbite.\u00a0 If you have any of the following signs, it might be frostbite:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 White or grayish-yellow skin area<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy<\/p>\n
o\u00a0\u00a0 Numbness<\/p>\n
- \n
- If you see someone with frostbite symptoms, make sure that person gets medical care.\u00a0<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Do not ignore shivering<\/u>.\u00a0 It\u2019s an important first sign that the body is losing heat.\u00a0 Shivering is a sign it\u2019s time to return indoors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Information provided to TVL by:
\nJoshua Siegel
\nPublic Information Officer
\nCounty of Lehigh, Office of the County Executive
\n17 S. 7th Street, 4th Floor, Suite 436
\nAllentown, PA 18101
\nwww.lehighcounty.org<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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- Do not ignore shivering<\/u>.\u00a0 It\u2019s an important first sign that the body is losing heat.\u00a0 Shivering is a sign it\u2019s time to return indoors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- If you see someone with frostbite symptoms, make sure that person gets medical care.\u00a0<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin \u2013 you may be getting frostbite.\u00a0 If you have any of the following signs, it might be frostbite:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas.\u00a0 It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.\u00a0 Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- If you think someone may have hypothermia, take their temperature.\u00a0 If it is below 95 degrees, get immediate medical attention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Infants:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Adults:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Victims of hypothermia are most often:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Hypothermia usually occurs at very cold temperatures, but can also happen even at cool temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat or grom being in cold water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- When you have hypothermia, it affects your brain and prevents you from thinking clearly or moving well.\u00a0 That is why hypothermia is so dangerous \u2013 you may not even know it is happening and won\u2019t be able to do anything about it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n