Cold, snowy weather may soon settle in Kanawha and Putnam Counties. “With cold weather comes the possibility of health problems,” said officials for the Kanawha and Putnam health departments. “We enjoy West Virginia because of the change in seasons, but we need to protect our health.”
Use common-sense tips for dealing with cold weather:
- Get a flu shot. It’s still not too late. The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Putnam County Health Department have flu shots available.
- If you are using a fireplace, kerosene heaters or a wood stove, have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector near the heated areas.
- Frostbite can occur in minutes during extremely cold weather. Early signs of frostbite include numbness, redness and prickling of skin.
- To treat frostbite, get the individual to a warm place. Remove wet clothing. Gently warm the skin with warm–not hot–water. Do not rub or massage the skin or break blisters. Put gauze or cotton balls between fingers and toes to keep them separated. Immediately seek medical attention if the skin is turning white and hard or black.
- Hypothermia occurs after prolonged exposure to cold. Low body temperature affects the brain, making the victim unable to speak clearly or move well. Hypothermia is particularly dangerous because a person may not know it’s happening and be unable to do anything about it.
- Hypothermia often affects babies sleeping in cold bedrooms, the elderly, people remaining outdoors for long periods of time–like construction workers, hunters or the homeless–and people who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
- Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, drowsiness, exhaustion, shivering and slurred speech. Infants suffering from hypothermia have bright red, cold skin
- To treat hypothermia, get the individual into a warm room or shelter. Remove wet clothing. Warm the body using an electric blanket or other blankets. If the person is conscious, warm beverages help increase body temperature. Do not give the person alcohol. Immediately consult a health care professional if the body temperature is below 95 degrees.
- Exercise is always good. If the weather is too cold or the streets too slick, consider walking at a local mall. This is particularly good advice if the temperature hovers near zero or the wind chill factor is extreme.
- Persons with chronic conditions should check with their health care professionals before outdoor exercise in cold weather.
- Dress in layers when going outdoors in cold weather, particularly when exercising. Avoid cotton. It holds perspiration.
- Protect hands and ears. Wear gloves or mittens and a hat or headband.
- Shoveling snow puts unaccustomed stress on the body. If you have a lot of snow to shovel, don’t do it all at once. Take a break.
- Quit shoveling if you have shortness of breath, heavy sweating or any kind of pain. Those are warning signs of possible health care difficulties.