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DAYTON AREA CHAPTER OFFERS TIPS FOR EXTREME COLD   

Dayton, Ohio,  January 19, 2008 – As temperatures fall to dangerous levels across our region, the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross  is urging residents to take steps to guard against hypothermia and other emergencies commonly experienced during severely cold weather.  

Winter can be a beautiful time of year, but it also brings quiet dangers such as brutally cold temperatures Everyone, especially senior citizens and children, should take precautions to guard against hypothermia this winter, and the Red Cross can help.

Severely cold weather may cause hypothermia, a serious condition that predominantly affects young children and people over the age of 60. Symptoms of hypothermia include: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.

The American Red Cross offers these tips to stay safe this winter:

Protect Yourself Outdoors: 

  • Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat.
  • Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
  • Most of your body heat is lost through your head. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
  • Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia including:  confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
  • Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of frostbite including: numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or skin that appears waxy feeling skin.
  • Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
  • Remove wet clothes immediately and help warm your core body temperature by wrapping yourself in a  blanket or drinking warm fluids like hot cider or soup.
  • Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.
  • Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you think you might have hypothermia or frostbite.               
  • Allow extra time when traveling. Monitor weather conditions carefully and adhere to travel advisories.  
  • Keep a winter storm survival kit in your car. This should include blankets, food, flares, chains, gloves and first aid supplies.

Protect Yourself at Home:  
The rise in the use of alternative heat sources such as fireplaces, wood or coal-burning stoves and space heaters to stay warm, and unfortunately can result in an increase in the number of home fire incidents and carbon monoxide poisoning.

  • Keep fire in the fireplace by using glass or metal fire screens. Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house and provide constant adult supervision in rooms with fires lit.  
  • Appliances for cooking, not heating: Always follow the directions for using appliances that generate heat, keep them clear of flammable materials and never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
  • Do not feed the fire: Keep all flammable materials and potential fuel sources – including but not limited to old newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs – at least three feet away from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves.
  • Space heaters: Whether operating on electricity, gas, kerosene, coal or wood, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how, when and where to safely use them. If you must use space heaters, place them on a level, hard and nonflammable surface such as ceramic tile floor – not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
  • Fire extinguishers:  If you haven’t already, consider keeping one or more working fire extinguishers in your home and getting training from the fire department in how to use them.
  • Be careful with candles – Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
  • Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves yearly - Use a sturdy fire screen with lit fires. Burn only wood - never burn paper or pine boughs.
  • Use generators correctly –Never operate a generator inside your home, 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. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring.
  • Prevent frozen pipes - When the weather is very cold outside, open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. 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 because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing. Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature.
  • Check smoke and carbon monoxide 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 that extension cords don’t create hazardous walkways.

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

The Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross provides disaster preparedness and response, and health and safety education to residents of Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties, as well as assistance to families with members in the military.  The Chapter also operates Emergency Housing Programs in Montgomery and Greene counties.  Led by volunteers, responds to more than 200 local disaster incidents each year.The Dayton Area Chapter is a United Way agency.  For more information regarding Red Cross CPR, First Aid and other classes or for additional general information, please visit us online at www.dac.redcross.org or call 937-222-6711.   

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of local disasters in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties by making a financial gift to the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 517, Dayton, Ohio, 45401, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Internet users can make a secure online donation at www.dac.redcross.org