Bundle Up Greenwich -- Some Tips to Stay Safe and Warm

With forecast daytime temperatures in the teens and overnight in the single digits with below zero windchills, the Greenwich Health Department has issued a cold weather alert with tips on how to stay safe and warm.

Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause serious or life threatening health emergencies. Although anyone can be affected, infants, children, the elderly and those with health conditions are particularly at risk. In addition, household pets should not be kept outside during cold weather conditions. Extreme cold can vary across different areas of the country, but near freezing or below freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.”

Heating systems during cold weather normally work “overtime” and sometimes become faulty without warning, according to the health department. When these situations occur, many people resort to using space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm; however, their use increases the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Here’s what you need to know about dealing with the extremelly cold weather:

Frostbite most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. First signs of frostbite include redness or pain in any skin area followed by a white, waxy or grayish-yellow look to the skin. A person who is experiencing frostbite must be moved indoors immediately. Avoid rubbing parts of the body that appear to be frostbitten. This condition is serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to the cold and develops when a person’s body temperature falls below normal. Persons affected by hypothermia may shiver uncontrollably, become lethargic, appear confused or disoriented and not realize what is happening. Other signs of hypothermia include puffiness of the face, memory loss, slurred speech, decreased respiratory rate, irregular pulse and apparent exhaustion. If someone is hypothermic, call 911 immediately. Persons experiencing hypothermia should be taken to a warm location, have wet clothing removed and wrapped in warm dry clothing until medical assistance arrives. A warm non-alcoholic beverage can be given to a person who is conscious.

Here are some of the outdoor safety tips recommended by the Greenwich Health Department:

• Dress warmly by wearing layers of loose clothing with hat, gloves, scarf and insulated shoes
• Limit outdoor exposure including daily exercise routines
• Know outdoor temperature and the effect of wind chill factors on the body
• Keep walkways free of ice and snow to prevent falls
• Avoid the use of alcohol
• Notify someone of your whereabouts when you go out
• Avoid prolonged time outdoors of infants, children, the elderly, those with medical conditions and pets

Safety Tips To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• NEVER use portable generators or gasoline-powered equipment inside your home or garage, car port, etc.
• Never use gas or charcoal grills in the house, garage, etc.
• Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home
• Make sure inlets and outlets for your furnace are free of snow
• Make sure your car’s exhaust pipe is clear. Never heat your car up in the garage, even if the garage door is open

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting or loss of consciousness. Take everyone, including pets out of the house and call 911 from outside the house if you think there is a CO exposure.

Preventive Measures:

• Listen to weather forecasts
• Conduct annual chimney cleaning and inspection
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (battery operated) and test them regularly
• Install an indoor thermometer and outdoor thermometer, if possible
• Insulate water lines to prevent freezing
• Keep small children, pets, the elderly and those with health conditions indoors
• Have reliable transportation and a mobile phone if possible
• Do not use candles if possible
• Never use charcoal/gas grills, camp stoves or generators indoors
• Do not store gasoline indoors
• Use space heaters safely and ensure proper ventilation if they are needed
• Avoid using extension cords for space heaters and other portable equipment
• Never warm up your car in the garage, even if the garage door is open

TO REPORT EMERGENCIES – For all Police, Fire and EMS emergencies, dial 911.

Emergency Helplines

• Aquarion Water Company: 1-800-732-9678
• Northeast Utilities: 1-800-286-2000
• CT Natural Gas Company: (203) 869-6900
• Local Non-Emergency Phone Numbers:
• Town of Greenwich – www.greenwichct.org (203) 622-7700
• Greenwich Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health (203)-987-1001/622-7838
• Greenwich Fire Department non-emergency (203)-622-3950
• Greenwich Police Department non-emergency (203)-622-8003
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Service
• – American Medical Response (AMR) 1-800-379-7700
• Department of Parks and Recreation Tree Division (203)-622-7824
• Greenwich Chapter, American Red Cross (203)-869-8444
• Greenwich Department of Social Services (203) 622-3800
• Connecticut Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

Photo credit: flickr.com