Because I'm a meteorologist in my daytime job, I wanted to pass along some important information about the dangerous Arctic temperatures 2/3rds of the continental U.S. is experiencing so you and your pets will keep safe.
For at least the next week, the Eastern
and Central U.S. will continue to see DANGEROUS cold, Arctic temperatures with
wind chills near or Below Zero.
TIPS - Don’t stay out long. Frostbite occurs on
exposed skin in 30 minutes under these temperatures. Hypothermia can be
fatal.
*Dress in Layers. *Do NOT Exercise outdoors.
*Do NOT Leave pets outside or walk them- take pets out quickly, or use indoor pee pads.
Here are the facts:
WHAT IS WIND CHILL - The windchill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when
outside. Windchill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin
caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the
body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body
temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder. If the
temperature is 0°F and the wind is blowing at 15 mph, the windchill is
-19°F. At this windchill temperature, exposed skin can freeze in 30
minutes.
 |
| Frostbite on fingers |
FROSTBITE OCCURS – Within 30
minutes during these Arctic Outbreak temperatures the Eastern and Central U.S.
is currently experiencing.
For example, A temperature of 0°F
and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19°F.
Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes.
... Extremely cold temperature can also cause hypothermia, when the
body's temperature dips below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
WHAT DOES FROSTBITE DO? You have frostbite
when your body tissue freezes. The most susceptible parts of the body are
fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Symptoms include a loss of
feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Get medical attention
immediately for frostbite. The area should be SLOWLY rewarmed using warm, not
hot water.
WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?
- Hypothermia occurs when body
temperature falls below 95°F. Determine your temperature with a
thermometer.
- Warning signs include
uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence,
slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion.
- Get medical attention
immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY.
Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities. Warming extremities first
drives the cold blood to the heart and can cause the body temperature to
drop further--which may lead to heart failure.
- If you are helping someone else
with hypothermia, get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm
blanket. Be sure to cover the head and neck.
- Do not give the person alcohol,
drugs, coffee, or any HOT beverage or food. WARM broth and food is better.
- About 20% of cold related
deaths occur in the home. Young children under the age of two and the
elderly (those more than 65 years old), are most susceptible to
hypothermia.
- Hypothermia can set in over a
period of time. Keep the thermostat above 69°F, wear warm clothing, eat
food for warmth, and drink plenty of water or fluids other than alcohol
and caffeine to keep hydrated.
- Avoid alcohol because it will
LOWER your body temperature.
FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/cold/faqs.shtml
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