This week, Campbell County, Wyoming is experiencing some frigid weather.
In fact, the wind chill advisory was extended through Thursday, February
7, with the possibility of wind chills dropping down to around -40.
David King,
Campbell County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, offered up some great tips to help keep people and their
pets’ safe during this cold snap. Information was collected from
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Extreme Cold Safety For Humans
Adults and children should wear:
- a hat
- a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
- sleeves that are snug at the wrist
- mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
- water-resistant coat and boots
- several layers of loose-fitting clothing
Layer-up
- Inner Layer: Wear fabrics that will hold more body heat and don’t
absorb moisture. Wool, silk, or polypropylene will hold more body heat
than cotton.
- Insulation Layer: An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping
air close to your body. Natural fibers, like wool or goose down, or a
classic fleece work best.
- Outer Layer: The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and
snow. It should be tightly woven, and preferably water and wind resistant,
to reduce loss of body heat.
Additional Tips:
- Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body rapidly.
- Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of
clothing whenever you feel too warm.
- Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and
fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with
the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.
- Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body
is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia: Avoid, Spot, Treat - Frostbite and Hypothermia
Keep in mind frostbite can set in on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
- Hypothermia: Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold
temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose
heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually
use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.
Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim
unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially
dangerous, because a person may not know it’s happening and won’t
be able to do anything about it.
- Frostbite: Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that causes
a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the
nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently
damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.
Avoid Exertion
Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease
or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling
snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have
to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your
body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.
Avoid Ice
Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many cold-weather injuries result
from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Keep
your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt
or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand may also be used on walkways
to reduce the risk of slipping.
Be Safe During Recreation
- Notify friends and family where you will be before you go hiking, camping,
or skiing.
- Do not leave areas of the skin exposed to the cold.
- Avoid perspiring or becoming overtired. Be prepared to take emergency shelter.
- Pack dry clothing, a two-wave radio, waterproof matches and paraffin fire
starters with you.
- Do not use alcohol and other mood altering substances, and avoid caffeinated
beverages.
- Avoid walking on ice or getting wet.
- Carefully watch for signs of cold-weather health problems.
Be Cautious About Travel
- Listen for radio or television reports of travel advisories issued by the
National Weather Service.
- Do not travel in low visibility conditions.
- Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.
- If you must travel by car, use tire chains and take a mobile phone with you.
- If you must travel, let someone know your destination and when you expect
to arrive. Ask them to notify authorities if you are late.
- Check and restock the winter emergency supplies in your car before you leave.
- Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow; shattering may occur.
- Don’t rely on a car to provide sufficient heat; the car may break down.
- Always carry additional warm clothing appropriate for the winter conditions.
What to Do if You Get Stranded
- Staying in your vehicle when stranded is often the safest choice if winter
storms create poor visibility or if roadways are ice covered. These steps
will increase your safety when stranded:
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna as a signal to rescuers and
raise the hood of the car (if it is not snowing).
- Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area.
- Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets,
or newspapers.
- Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems.
- Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window
slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust
pipe—this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation
and stay warmer.
- Do not eat unmelted snow because it will lower your body temperature.
- Huddle with other people for warmth.
Cold Weather Safety For Pets
-
Winter wellness. Has your pet had his/her preventive care exam (wellness exam) yet? Cold
weather may worsen some medical conditions such as arthritis. Your pet
should be examined by a veterinarian at least once a year, and it's
as good a time as any to get him/her checked out to make sure (s)he is
ready and as healthy as possible for cold weather.
-
Know the limits. Just like people, pets' cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet based
on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, and health. Be aware of
your pet's tolerance for cold weather, and adjust accordingly. You
will probably need to shorten your dog's walks in very cold weather
to protect you both from weather-associated health risks. Arthritic and
elderly pets may have more difficulty walking on snow and ice and may
be more prone to slipping and falling. Long-haired or thick-coated dogs
tend to be more cold-tolerant, but are still at risk in cold weather.
Short-haired pets feel the cold faster because they have less protection,
and short-legged pets may become cold faster because their bellies and
bodies are more likely to come into contact with snow-covered ground.
Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances
(such as Cushing's disease) may have a harder time regulating their
body temperature, and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature
extremes. The same goes for very young and very old pets. If you need
help determining your pet's temperature limits, consult your veterinarian.
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Provide choices. Just like you, pets prefer comfortable sleeping places and may change their
location based on their need for more or less warmth. Give them some safe
options to allow them to vary their sleeping place to adjust to their needs.
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Stay inside.Cats and dogs should be kept inside during cold weather. It's a common belief that dogs and cats are more resistant than people
to cold weather because of their fur, but it's untrue. Like people,
cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should
be kept inside. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies
and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather;
but no pet should be left outside for long periods in below-freezing weather.
-
Make some noise. A warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor and
feral cats, but it's deadly. Check underneath your car, bang on the
hood, and honk the horn before starting the engine to encourage feline
hitchhikers to abandon their roost under the hood.
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Check the paws. Check your dog's paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury
or damage, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. During a walk, a sudden
lameness may be due to an injury or may be due to ice accumulation between
his/her toes. You may be able to reduce the chance of iceball accumulation
by clipping the hair between your dog's toes.
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Play dress-up. If your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by the cold weather, consider
a sweater or dog coat. Have several on hand, so you can use a dry sweater
or coat each time your dog goes outside. Wet sweaters or coats can actually
make your dog colder. Some pet owners also use booties to protect their
dog's feet; if you choose to use them, make sure they fit properly.
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Wipe down. During walks, your dog's feet, legs and belly may pick up deicers,
antifreeze, or other chemicals that could be toxic. When you get back
inside, wipe down (or wash) your pet's feet, legs and belly to remove
these chemicals and reduce the risk that your dog will be poisoned after
(s)he licks them off of his/her feet or fur. Consider using pet-safe deicers
on your property to protect your pets and the others in your neighborhood.
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Collar and chip. Many pets become lost in winter because snow and ice can hide recognizable
scents that might normally help your pet find his/her way back home. Make
sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with up-to-date identification
and contact information. A microchip is a more permanent means of identification,
but it's critical that you keep the registration up to date.
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Stay home. Hot cars are a known threat to pets, but cold cars also pose significant
risk to your pet's health. You're already familiar with how a
car can rapidly cool down in cold weather; it becomes like a refrigerator,
and can rapidly chill your pet. Pets that are young, old, ill, or thin
are particularly susceptible to cold environments and should never be
left in cold cars. Limit car travel to only that which is necessary, and
don't leave your pet unattended in the vehicle.
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Prevent poisoning. Clean up any antifreeze spills quickly, as even small amounts of antifreeze
can be deadly. Make sure your pets don't have access to medication
bottles, household chemicals, potentially toxic foods such as onions,
xylitol (a sugar substitute) and chocolate.
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Protect family. Odds are your pet will be spending more time inside during the winter,
so it's a good time to make sure your house is properly pet-proofed.
Use space heaters with caution around pets, because they can burn or they
can be knocked over, potentially starting a fire. Check your furnace before
the cold weather sets in to make sure it's working efficiently, and
install carbon monoxide detectors to keep your entire family safe from
harm. If you have a pet bird, make sure its cage is away from drafts.
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Avoid ice. When walking your dog, stay away from frozen ponds, lakes and other water.
You don't know if the ice will support your dog's weight, and
if your dog breaks through the ice it could be deadly. And if this happens
and you instinctively try to save your dog, both of your lives could be
in jeopardy.
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Provide shelter
We don't recommend keeping any pet outside for long periods of time,
but if you are unable to keep your dog inside during cold weather, provide
him/her with a warm, solid shelter against wind. Make sure that they have unlimited access to fresh, non-frozen water (by
changing the water frequently or using a pet-safe, heated water bowl).
The floor of the shelter should be off of the ground (to minimize heat
loss into the ground) and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed
regularly to provide a warm, dry environment. The door to the shelter
should be positioned away from prevailing winds. Space heaters and heat
lamps should be avoided because of the risk of burns or fire. Heated pet
mats should also be used with caution because they are still capable of
causing burns.
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Recognize problems. If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops
moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them
back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia. Frostbite
is harder to detect, and may not be fully recognized until a few days
after the damage is done. If you suspect your pet has hypothermia or frostbite,
consult your veterinarian immediately.
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Be prepared. Cold weather also brings the risks of severe winter weather, blizzards
and power outages. Prepare a disaster/emergency kit, and include your
pet in your plans. Have enough food, water and medicine (including any
prescription medications as well as heartworm and flea/tick preventives)
on hand to get through at least 5 days.
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Feed well. Keep your pet at a healthy weight throughout the winter. Some pet owners
feel that a little extra weight gives their pet some extra protection
from cold, but the health risks associated with that extra weight don't
make it worth doing. Watch your pet's body condition and keep them
in the healthy range. Outdoor pets will require more calories in the winter
to generate enough body heat and energy to keep them warm – talk
to your veterinarian about your pet's nutritional needs during cold weather.