Even a slight drop in temperature can trigger Raynaud's phenomenon, a circulatory problem that affects about one in 20 people. Fingers, toes and ears get numb and throb with pain, as skin may change to white, red and then blue as it is exposed to cold. Managing stress and dressing warmly can help to prevent these episodes. Cold, dry weather — both indoors or outdoors — can leave skin chapped and itchy, so keeping skin well-moisturized is especially important. And, or course, the common cold is much more common this time of year, although the weather has little to do with it. Instead, the increased incidence is a result of people spending more time indoors, increasing the chances that any of the 200 different viruses that can trigger a cold will spread from person to person.
Influenza is the most feared of wintertime respiratory viruses and can cause serious illness especially in the elderly and those with chronic diseases. We don't know why, but influenza occurs in winter months in the Northern Hemisphere and circulates in the Southern Hemisphere during our summers (and their winters). Immunization can protect against serious influenza, and anyone can be vaccinated unless there is a serious allergy to eggs or prior flu shots.
When the weather turns especially nasty, being prepared can make all the difference in how you withstand the winter.
Dress for Health
Dressing in layers is the best way to ward off the chills. Layers help trap heat and allow you to remove clothes as you work up a sweat. The inner layer should be a synthetic fabric like polypropylene or natural silk, which whisks perspiration from you skin; since cotton absorbs sweat, it's not advised for your inner layer. A wool sweater or shirt is a good middle layer, because it helps trap body heat. And the outer layer should help protect you against the elements and let sweat evaporate, so choose a water-proof jacket or windbreaker that "breathes." Fiber-pile is also good, since it contains thousands of tiny air pockets to trap warm air and keep you comfortable for hours.
Should you get stranded, it's also a good idea to keep a change of warm, dry clothes, a warm blanket, gloves or mittens, as well as a wool hat and socks in your car. When, walking on ice — slow and steady wins this race, especially if you're aging and more at risk for fractures.
Shoveling Snow
Heart attacks may be triggered by shoveling snow, especially if it's of the wet, heavy variety. Researchers point to several factors that usually put excess strain on your heart: working in an upright posture when legs are motionless; static exertion; and exposure to cold air. So before tackling the sidewalk, warm up arm and leg muscles with some light exercise and be sure to dress accordingly (including wearing a scarf around your mouth if necessary). When you shovel, be sure to take frequent breaks by walking around to keep your legs moving. Also, bend at the knees to prevent back pain and upper body strain.
Or better yet, use a snow blower.
Breathe Easier Indoors
It's no coincidence that upper respiratory infections increase during the winter. Besides colds, flu and other viruses, breathing infectious bacteria, mold and any of the 200 different contaminants in the average household--from formaldehyde in plywood to carbon dioxide from kitchen appliances can be hazordous to your health.
The definition of "being homesick" takes a whole new meaning.
While you can't open the windows for better circulation, you can offset some of this exposure with houseplants, such as philodendron, palms and ferns, which absorb some of these airborne toxins as food. Increasing humidity with a pot of water on a wood stove or hear heating sources can also prevent the nose and tonsils from drying out, which reduces their efficiency at trapping germs.
Sick Building Syndrome is a controversial illness that has been said to cause headache, nausea and dizziness with throat and eye irritations. However, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause identical symptoms and also can kill, so if there is a potential source of the gas, such as a furnace, water heater or cars warming in your garage, levels can be monitored with a device available in most hardware stores.
Courtesy of The Johns Hopkins University.
They Need You: Special Care Necessary for Pets When Power Fails |
When the power is out across North Carolina, companion animals need our attention, says Dr. Kimberly Ange, a companion animal specialist at North Carolina State University.
In our modern society most of our companion animals are accustomed to being inside animals. Therefore, regardless of whether they have coats of fur, they can and do suffer from cold temperatures.
If your electricity is not working here are some important tips to keep in mind regarding your pets:
If the filter in your fish aquarium does not work for several days, your fish may need small water changes to add both important nutrients and warmth to the tank. Tap water should not be added directly to a tank without treating it. Blankets around the fish tank can also maintain the appropriate temperature for a longer period of time.
If you have outside animals, remember to check their water dishes and food every few hours. Consider a more nutrient dense diet to help pets combat cold.
Introduce additional bedding to their pet houses (straw and hay are best. Arranged pet houses so that the animals are out of the wind and not in danger of dangling limbs or falling trees.
If at all possible, bring the pets indoors during severe weather.
When leaving to go to a shelter either take your pet with you (call ahead first to make sure this is acceptable) or find a local animal boarding facility that has heat and is willing to house your pet.
Also, when walking your pet after the storm, guide your companion away from road salt and other chemicals that may cause sickness or poison.
Tips on Keeping Warm, Safe in the Event of a Storm |
Tips on keeping warm when the power leaves you without heat. Consider moving yourself and your family — especially those with special needs — to an alternate location or shelter during an extended outage.
Progress Energy offers these safety tips to not only prepare for storms, but how to stay safe both during and after storms.
If you are without heat and are unable to safely go to a location where there is heat, then you should:
Stay indoors.
Use a safe alternate heat source (such as wood stove, kerosene heaters), if available. Find the warmest area in the house.
Bundle up, put on layers of clothing, and get under blankets.
Wear a hat and mittens or gloves.
After the storm is over, the following is suggested:
Never go near downed power lines. Always assume they are energized and extremely dangerous. If someone suffers an electric shock, call 911 or your local rescue squad immediately. Even minor shocks may cause serious health problems later.
Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage, don't turn your power on until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs.
Walk or drive cautiously. Watch out for debris on streets.
A note about winter weather:
The type of precipitation that falls with a winter storm often depends upon the storm's path. Since cold air is usually found on the north side of a storm and milder air on the south side, wintry precipitation generally falls in areas north of the track of the storm's center.
ALBERTA CLIPPER is a fast moving, snow-producing weather system that originates in the lee of the Canadian Rockies. It moves quickly across the northern United States, often bring gusty winds and cold Arctic air.
Freezing rain is rain that falls on to a surface with a temperature below feezing (32 degrees Farenheit). This causes it to freeze to surface, such as trees, cars and road, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Freezing rain can especially cover roadways with ice causing extremely hazardous driving conditions.
Even small accumulations of ice can cause significant hazards.
Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by that tissue becoming frozen. Fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose are commonly affected. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in the extremities. Hypothermia can accompany frostbite.
Frost/Freeze Warning means winter weather conditions are expected and may cause significant damage to plants, crops or fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures, this is a signal to people who have homes without heat to take added precautions.
Hypothermia is low body temperature that can lead to heart failure. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion. To detect hypothermia, take the person’s temperature and if below 95 degrees Farenheit, seek medical care or, if medical care is not available, warm the person slowly from the torso to extremities. Warm broth is best, not alcohol or other hot beverages or food. Frostbite may accompany hypothermia.
Sleet is rain drops that feeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when it hits the surface and does not stick to objects. It can accumulate snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature.
Snow falls into many categories including:
Flurries is light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that is expected.
Heavy Snow is snow that is falling and reducing visibility to a quarter of a mile or less.
Snow Showers means snow is expected to fall at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is possible.
lls are brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Typically produce significant accumulation. Squalls are most common in the Great Lakes region.
Blowing snow is wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling or is loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
Blizzard conditions exist when winds over 35 miles per hour with snow and blowing snow reduce visibility to near zero. Typically, a blizzard warning will be issued that means, seek shelter.
Saving Food During Winter Storms |
Back in the “good ol’ days,” when we didn’t have electricity to run refrigerators, storing food outside during the winter months was common. This was not a safe practice then and is definitely not recommended today when a power failure occurs.
Food exposed to the sun’s rays could melt, become too warm and allow bacteria to grow. If a power failure occurs but is not lengthy, refrigerated food will stay cold if the refrigerator door is kept closed. Don’t check on how cold the food is. Each time you check, you let out precious cold air.
Most refrigerator/freezer units will keep food frozen up to one day. How can you tell if food should be discarded? Food still containing ice crystals or food that feels cold to the touch can be refrozen; quality will suffer, but the food will be safe to consume. Discard any thawed food that has risen to room temperature. Never taste suspect food. Some foods may look and smell fine but still be dangerous because bacteria that cause food-borne illness may be present. The general rule is: “When in doubt, throw it out!”
Local Trooper Offers Winter Driving Tips |
First Sergeant T.D. Simmons of the Highway Patrol Aberdeen office offers these tips when driving in snow and icy weather.
Even on clear, sunny days drivers should space themselves at least a car length behind the vehicle in front of them for every 10-mph they are traveling. If traveling 50 mph, the driver should be five car lengths behind the car in front of them.
Double that if it’s raining.
“For ice, I’d go way beyond that,” Simmons says. “Keep plenty of distance and keep that speed reduced.” The average driver’s reaction time is 3/4 of a second, Simmons said.
Make sure tires are in good shape and not balding. It may help to let out a few pounds of air before driving in snow that is several inches deep. Lowering the air pressure will not help with icy roads.
“Nothing will help you with ice except maybe for chains,” Simmons said.
When sliding on an icy road, brake and turn into the direction the car is skidding. For newer cars with anti-lock breaks there is no need to pump the breaks. Drivers without anti-lock breaks should pump the breaks when sliding and skidding on ice. “Sometimes you can’t avoid skidding but if you’re going at a reduced speed, you can control it,” Simmons said. “The faster you’re going the more severe damage you’re going to have.”
Remember bridges and overpasses can be icy when the roads or highways are clear.
Simmons said most importantly don’t drive unless you have to during bad weather. If you do drive, do it slowly.
Stock Up: No-Cook Foods Best |
When it looks like a natural disaster or storm may be headed your way, consider stocking up on foods that require no cooking, so you’ll have something to eat if the power goes out.
Here’s a list, prepared by N.C. Cooperative Extension, of items to consider:
Canned fruit and juice.
Ready-to-eat cereals or breakfast bars.
Fresh whole fruit and vegetables.
Bread, crackers and cookies.
Peanut butter.
Nuts and seeds.
Dried fruit.
Hard candy.
Granola bars.
Beef jerky.
These foods require refrigeration after they are prepared or opened, so you will need to eat them in one sitting if your power is out:
Canned, evaporated or reconstituted powdered milk.
Processed cheese or cheese spreads.
Canned vegetables, beans, and fruit.
Canned meats, fish and poultry.
Canned puddings.
Cut fresh fruits.
Cut vegetables.
If you like coffee, tea or cocoa, consider buying instant versions if you think your tap water will be hot enough to prepare them.
For more information, you can call the Moore County Cooperative Extension Center at 947-3188.
The following agents will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Bert Coffer, county extension director;
Randy Wood, livestock;
Eric Honeycutt, horticulture; Karen Wicker, family and consumer;
Agnes Evans, foods and Nutrition; and
Linda Gore, youth.
Interested persons can also visit the Extension Service Web site,
www.ces.ncsu.edu/moore
Prevent Fires: Beware of Home-Heating Hazards |
As sub-zero temperatures, snow, high winds and ice coat the nation, the American Red Cross urges families to take precautions to keep safe and to take care of home heating hazards.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, four out of seven home fires occur during December, January and February. About half of these fires are caused by using candles and overloading electrical circuits. The following precautions are recommended:
Be careful with candles — Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves — Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of every heating season. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood - never burn paper or pine boughs.
Use generators correctly — If you have a portable generator and the power goes out, always plan to keep the generator outdoors-never operate it inside, including the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Connecting a cord from the generator to a point on the permanent wiring system and backfeeding power to your home is an unsafe method to supply a building with power.
Check smoke alarms — Make sure alarms are working properly and replace batteries as necessary.
Be aware of overuse of electrical outlets — Don't overload your electrical outlets. Be careful of extension cords that present hazardous walkways.
For more valuable information on preparing for a surviving cold weather contact your local American Red Cross chapter or visit www.redcross.org.
merican Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of more than 900 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 32,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
Water Important Item in Supply Kit |
You and your family will be better able to cope with an emergency until help arrives if you prepare not by putting together a disaster supply kit, says the N.C. Cooperative Extension.
Water
Water is the most important item. Store water in plastic containers, such as clean soft-drink bottles. Avoid using containers that could decompose, break or contaminate the water. To keep stored water fresh, change it every six months.
A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. If it’s hot and you are very active, you need twice as much. Children, nursing mothers and sick people will need more. Follow these guidelines for water storage:
Store at least one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking and two quarts for food preparation, washing dishes and bathing). Two gallons per person is better.
Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household more if you have a place to store it.
Include bleach for purifying additional water if supplies run out (coffee filters may be used to remove sediment before purifying water).
nInclude a medicine dropper or 1/8 teaspoon and ½ teaspoon measuring spoons for measuring bleach.
Food
Prepare a two-week supply of nonperishable food. The gas or electricity could be off during an emergency, so select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Rotate the food with newly purchased food supplies to ensure freshness. Buy food in packages that contain an amount that can be consumed in one meal.
Make sure you purchase foods that you and your familly like as well as foods that have a long shelf-life. Because they contain liquids, canned fruit, vegetables, and fruit juices are excellent choices. Consider stocking up on these items:
Ready-to-eat canned fruits and vegetables.
Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered or concentrated, store extra water), cheese spreads.
Staples (sugar, salt and pepper).
High-energy foods (peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit and nuts).
Vitamins.
Foods for infants, elderly people and those on special diets.
Comfort foods, such as cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee and tea.
anned meats, such as tuna and Vienna sausage.
Don’t forget items you’ll need to prepare food, including charcoal, wood for the fireplace, fuel cups (Sterno) or gas for a gas grill as well as a can opener.
Heaters, Fireplaces Need Special Care |
Emergency medicine physicians at Duke University Hospital urge area residents to consider the following tips to avoid health problems and safety issues in their homes during cold weather.
“While most people will feel chilled and know to get out of the cold, elderly residents and some people with chronic diseases may not feel the normal responses to cold weather,” said Dr. Kathleen Clem, chief of emergency medicine at Duke. “These are people who may not be aware that their body temperature is dropping, so they need to take particular care to protect themselves.”
Dr. Kathleen Clem, chief of emergency medicine at Duke, suggests that the elderly and people with chronic illness should limit their time outdoors and wear multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing to trap heat near the body.
“Nearly half of a person’s body heat is lost through the head, so people should wear a hat while outdoors,” she added.
The last bout of severe winter weather — an ice storm in early December — left more than a million residents without heat or electricity for an extended time. While weather of that magnitude is not expected again soon, it is wise to heed the following precautions from the Home Safety Council:
Carbon Monoxide
Avoid using a cooking stove to heat your home.
Never use a gas grill inside your home or in a closed garage.
Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.
Install at least one smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm on every level of
your home and near sleeping areas.
Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up the centralheating system and repair leaks.
Fireplaces and Wood stoves:
Burn only wood. Do not burn trash or cardboard, as these items increase the risk of uncontrolled fires.
Inspect chimneys every year for cracks, blockages and leaks.
Keep all people and flammable objects, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing and pets, at least 36 inches from fireplaces and wood stoves.
Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
Hire a professional sweep to clean your chimney at least once a year to prevent creosote build-up.
Space Heaters
Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.
Supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use.
Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
Avoid using space heaters to dry flammable items such as clothing or blankets.
Keep all flammable objects at least three feet from space heaters.
The Home Safety Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of and education about home injuries.
Companies Install Automated Systems for Outage Reporting |
Compiled from Internet Web Sites
What Progress Energy
Customers Should Do
Progress Energy customers who lose power are asked to call 1-800-419-6356. If using a battery-operated laptop, customers can access a new storm central section of the company’s Web site at
www.progress-energy.com/storm.
During outages and major storms, PE brings in additional employees to respond to customer calls during major storms, and customers may speak directly to a representative if they wish. However, the fastest way for customers to report power outages is through the company’s automated, technologically advanced outage-reporting system. Recent enhancements to the system allow customers to report power outages more quickly than ever, with shorter waits and fewer busy signals. When the call is answered, the system is able to automatically identify the location of the outage and report it to line & service crews immediately. The recent enhancements give CP&L the ability to manage more than 125,000 customer calls per hour.
Central Electric Offers These Tips
Central Electric Cooperative says when your power is off, do the following:
1. Check your home’s breaker panel (and any outdoor disconnects) to make sure the outage is not due to a tripped breaker.
2. Call neighbors to see if their power is off. This will help determine whether the problem exists within your home or on the company lines.
3. If you determine the problem is outside your home, call Central electric’s automated outage reporting system at 1-877-766-6769. When customers dial this special number a recorded voice offers step-by-step instructions. The Central Electric computer identifies the caller’s telephone number and through cross referencing enables the staff to pinpoint the outage location quickly.
Randolph Electric Recommends
Randolph Electric serves those in Moore County through its Robbins Office. Customers experiencing an outage should call their outage line at 1-877-REMC OFF or 1-877-736-2633.
