Extreme Cold Weather Tips

• Stay indoors and use safe heating sources.
• Keep space heaters away from flammable materials.
• Check on elderly or disabled family, friends or neighbors.
• Leave faucets dripping slightly to avoid freezing.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children. 
• Before winter, have your home heating checked out. 
• Store a supply of wood for fireplaces/wood-burning stoves.
• Insulate walls and attics and weather-stripping doors and windows or covering them with plastic.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case pipes burst).
• Check vehicle maintenance/antifreeze levels to avoid freezing.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.

Remember the Five P's of Cold Weather Safety

• Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Also, remember to check on young children and the elderly family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at a home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
• Protect Pets: If cold weather is in the forecast, be sure to bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter to stay in.
• Protect Plants: Cover cold sensitive plants to protect them from the dangerous temperatures.
• Protect Pipes: Cover pipes and allow outdoor faucets to slowly drip to prevent from freezing and breaking.
• Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames. In the event of long-term power outages, be extremely careful when using generators, lanterns, gas powered appliances or when cooking on charcoal grills or gas grills. These appliances produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide which is a deadly, invisible and odorless gas that can cause poisoning in only a matter of minutes. Equipment or appliances that produce carbon monoxide should never be used indoors. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not stop carbon monoxide buildup.

Frostbite & Hypothermia

In cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced, which can lead to serious health problems.

When going outside in the cold, be sure to wear a hat, a scarf or knit mask that covers your face and mouth, a water-resistant coat, mittens or gloves, water-resistant boots, and several layers of loose-fitting clothing.

Make sure body parts most often affected are covered in warm, dry clothing: nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin, fingers.

How to Spot Frostbite & Hypothermia

Frostbite Symptoms

• Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite.
• A white or grayish-yellow skin area
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

Hypothermia Symptoms
Adults

• Shivering
• Exhaustion
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness

Infants

• Bright red, cold skin
• Very low energy

If a person's temperature is below 95 degrees, get medical attention immediately.

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Who is at High Risk

• Older adults without proper food, clothing, or heating
• People who stay outdoors for long periods, including homeless individuals, hikers, and hunters
• People who drink alcohol in excess or use illicit drugs
• Babies sleeping in cold rooms

Treat Frostbite and Hypothermia

1. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
2. Get the person into a warm room or shelter.
3. Remove any wet clothing.
4. Warm the person under dry blankets and clothing.
5. Place areas affected by frostbite in warm-to-touch water.

Frostbite Caution

Because skin may be numb, a person with frostbite can injure themselves further. Do not:

• Walk on feet or toes with frostbite unless absolutely necessary
• Use a fireplace, heat lamp, radiator, or stove for warming
• Use a heating pad or electric blanket for warming
• Rub or massage areas with frostbite

More information: emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/index.asp