Cold weather dangers

Hypothermia strikes when the body loses more heat than it can produce. It usually happens during exposure to cool temperatures, rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Symptoms in adults

• Shivering, exhaustion
• Confusion, fumbling hands
• Memory loss, slurred speech
• Drowsiness

Symptoms in infants

• Bright red, cold skin
• Very low energy

What to do:

• Get medical help if a person’s temperature drops below 95 degrees
• Place the victim in a warm room
• Remove any wet clothing
• Warm the chest, neck, head and groin with blankets, clothing, towels, or an electric blanket.
• Drink warm beverages that do not contain alcohol

Frostbite is a result of the cold damaging skin, and most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.

• White or grayish-yellow skin area
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

 what to do:

• Place victim in a warm room
• Immerse damaged area in warm – not hot – water
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it. this will cause more damage.
• Do not walk on frostbitten toes unless absolutely necessary.
• Do not use heating pads, heat lamps, stoves or fireplaces for warming. Affected areas are numb and could be burned. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control

BRISTOL, Va. – Don’t let the weekend’s intermittent clear skies lull you into a false sense of comfort and safety.

A pair of approaching storm fronts is poised to pelt the Mountain Empire with snow, sleet, freezing rain and more snow.

“It’s going to be an interesting wintry mix,” 11 Connects Meteorologist Nathan Scott said of the double blast expected to hit around midnight tonight and keep temperatures in the mid 20s to upper 30s.

Storm systems approaching from the Gulf Coast and the Midwest will likely brush the region instead of passing directly over us, Scott said. still, the edge of each storm should bring plenty of blustery weather.

Be sure to stay safe while playing or working in the snow, where overexertion and falls are sure to happen. Providing a few tips on avoiding some of the problems he sees in the Bristol Regional Medical Center emergency room is Dr. Chris Krone. 

– Shortness of breath, headaches, nausea and vomiting might be signs of carbon monoxide, odorless, colorless gas found in combustion fumes, he said.

Carbon monoxide is produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns, gas ranges, and when cooking with charcoal or wood. the gas tends to build up in enclosed spaces, and is often an overlooked danger when trying to warm the house in a power outage.

“It’s really important that people don’t use those (forms of heat) because they’re not designed for indoor use,” Krone said. 

– Winter weather is deceptive when it comes to working outside where you won’t notice your body overheating, Krone said.

 the physical exertion from shoveling snow is the same as any strenuous workout routine. the toll is more dangerous when body is already building up heat to fight the cold.

“They’ll be doing more exercise … and eventually their chest starts to hurt,” Krone said.

People with diabetes, heart disease and smokers should have a physician check their health before jumping into any winter yard work. 

– the elderly might want to rethink a trek over slick sidewalks and parking lots. Falls resulting in fractured hips, broken arms and twisted ankles are likely to occur.

 “Usually, older people have balance issues,” Krone said.

The best bet is to have a friend or relative clean the sidewalk, pick up the mail or hike to the grocery store.