Safety Tips For Wintry Weather

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STNG) - Although winter is a great time for outdoor sports and spending time with loved ones during the holiday season, it’s also a time of illness and injury if people do not follow proper health and safety precautions.

Here are some safety tips for wintry weather from the Lake County, Ill. Health Department:

-- To avoid getting a cold, keep the humidity up in your home (between 30 and 40 percent) since dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat and causes them to crack, creating a place where cold viruses could enter the body. Washing hands frequently and avoiding contact with people with colds is also important.

-- To avoid getting influenza, hand washing is the first line of defense. Other good habits to help prevent the spread of any respiratory illnesses are to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, stay home when you are sick and get a flu shot.

-- Hypothermia can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly. The most common victims are older people who have difficulty keeping themselves or their homes warm in cold weather. Senior citizens should take caution that they don’t turn their thermostats down too low to save money. Infants less than 1 year of age are also at risk because they lose body heat more easily than adults, and cannot make enough body heat by shivering.

Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations and slow and shallow breathing. If you notice these symptoms in a  person, take his or her temperature. If it's 95 degrees or below, call a doctor or ambulance or take the victim directly to the hospital.

When outdoors, be aware of the added effect of wind chill. For example, 20-degree air temperature combined with a 20 miles per hour wind, has the effect of 10 degrees below zero on the human body.

-- When spending long periods of time outdoors during cold weather, be alert for signs of frostbite. It initially occurs in the nose, ears, fingers and toes, and can happen at any temperature below 32 degrees. To prevent frostbite, wear hats that cover the ears, scarves or masks to cover the face, and several layers of clothing to trap body heat. Mittens are better than gloves.

To treat frostbitten skin, do not rub the area, since friction can cause further damage. Seek medical attention immediately. Warm the affected parts of the body with warm water for 20 to 40 minutes. Wrap the frostbitten area in blankets, sweaters, etc.

-- You should avoid shoveling snow unless you are in good physical condition. If you become breathless, stop, go indoors and warm up before continuing. Overexertion can cause heart attacks and lifting heavy snow can cause back ailments.

-- If you skate on a lake or a pond, take safety precautions. Do not skate unless the ice has a uniform thickness of at least four inches. Have rescue devices, such as rope, ladder and blankets on hand. Do not skate alone. If you are snowmobiling, do not travel on lake or rivers without knowing the ice conditions.