Lapeer Area View

Tips to help with bitter cold this week




LAPEER — While the winter has been relatively mild, the weekend ushered in some arctic air that’s going to stick around for a while. The forecast this week doesn’t show us warming up much beyond the teens, with lows in the single digits. In order to keep ourselves, our pets and our homes out of danger, there are a number of precautions we can take to keep the bitter cold from biting too hard.

Avoiding frostbite

First and foremost comes the danger of frostbite — when the skin and underlying tissues freeze — which occurs when people are exposed to extremely cold weather conditions or direct contact with ice or frozen metal. This can happen if you’re not wearing appropriate clothing for the weather or if you’re staying out in the cold and wind. According to mayoclinic.org, in a wind chill of -16F, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.

Signs and symptoms of frostbite include cold skin and a prickling feeling, then numbness, skin that is red, white, bluish-white, or grayish-yellow, hard or waxy-looking skin and clumsiness. Frostbite is most common on the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks and chin, and you might not realize you are frostbitten because of numbness. Frostbite can be mild to deep.

You should seek medical attention if you experience increased pain, swelling, redness or discharge in the area that was frostbitten, fever, new, unexplained symptoms

In addition, get emergency medical help if you suspect hypothermia, a condition in which your body loses heat faster than it can be produced. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include intense shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness and loss of coordination.

Frostbite can be prevented by following these tips:

• Limit time you’re outdoors in cold, wet or windy weather. Pay attention to weather forecasts and wind chill readings.

• Dress in several layers of loose, warm clothing. Air trapped between the layers of clothing acts as insulation against the cold. Wear windproof and waterproof outer garments to protect against wind, snow and rain. Choose undergarments that wick moisture away from your skin.

Change out of wet clothing — particularly gloves, hats and socks

— as soon as possible.

• Wear a hat or headband that fully covers your ears. Heavy woolen or windproof materials make the best headwear for cold protection.

• Wear mittens rather than gloves.

Mittens provide better protection. Or try a thin pair of glove liners made of a wicking material (such as polypropylene) under a pair of heavier gloves or mittens.

• Wear socks and sock liners that fit well, wick moisture and provide insulation. You might also try hand and foot warmers. Be sure the foot warmers don’t make your boots too tight, restricting blood flow.

• Plan to protect yourself. When traveling in cold weather, carry emergency supplies and warm clothing in case you become stranded. If you’ll be in remote territory, tell others your route and expected return date.

• Don’t drink alcohol if you plan to be outdoors in cold weather. Alcoholic beverages cause your body to lose heat faster.

Eat well-balanced meals and stay hydrated. Doing this even before you go out in the cold will help you stay warm.

Protect your pets

Despite their fur, animals are also susceptible to extreme cold and wind. “Keep pets out of this cold. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them,” said Lapeer County Animal Control Chief Dave Eady. “Even getting them out of the wind is better than nothing. If somebody absolutely can’t keep an animal inside, bring it to us and we’ll keep it for a couple days until this cold spell is over.”

According to humanesociety.org, the following tips can help keep animals safe:

• Keep your pets inside with you and your family. Under no circumstances should pet cats be left outdoors, even if they roam outside during other seasons. Don’t leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops. If your dog is outdoors much of the day for any reason, they must be protected by a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough to allow them to move comfortably, but small enough to hold in body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches from the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic. Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal.

• No matter what the temperature is, windchill can threaten a pet’s life. Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold snaps. For this reason, short-haired dogs often feel more comfortable wearing a sweater— even during short walks. Rock salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.

• Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up any antifreeze spills immediately and keep it, like all household chemicals, out of reach. Coolants and antifreeze made with propylene glycol are less toxic to pets, wildlife and family. Dogs are at particular risk of salt poisoning in winter due to the rock salt used in many areas — often when licking it from their paws after a walk. Store de-icing salt in a safe place and wipe your dog’s paws, even after short walks. If your dog ingests rock salt, call a veterinarian immediately.

• If there are outdoor cats, either owned pets or community cats in your area, remember that they need protection from the elements as well as food and water. It’s easy to give them a hand. You can make your own cat shelter quickly and easily with a plastic tub. Cars are one of many hazards to small animals — warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.

• Be sure your horses have access to a barn or a three-sided run-in so they can escape the wind and cold. While not all horses will need to be blanketed, blankets will help horses keep warm and dry, especially if there is any rain or snow. If you’ve body-clipped your horses, keep them blanketed throughout the winter.

Give your horses access to unfrozen water at all times. You can use heated buckets or water heaters/de-icers to make sure the water doesn’t freeze. Also, be sure to feed your horses more forage — unlimited amounts, if possible — during extreme cold. This will help your horses create heat and regulate their body temperatures.

Keep your pipes unfrozen

According to redcross.org, water expands as it freezes, which puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break.

Pipes that freeze most frequently are pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines; water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets; and pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation. You can help prevent frozen pipes by following these tips:

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

• Open kitchen and bathroom to circulateLiquidcabinet doors to allow warmer air Art around the plumbing.

• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe — even at a trickle — helps prevent pipes from freezing.

• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you mayGaragesincur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° * F.

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. MoveRunning water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.

Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hairdryer, a portable space heater, or by wrapping pipes with towelsWesoakedStorein hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or another open flame device. Apply heat until the full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the pipe,Wefrozen area, if the frozen is not accessible, the Floor area or if you cannot thaw call a licensed plumber.

Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.