Mamaroneck Issues 'Dangerous' Cold Weather Warning

The Village of Mamaroneck has issued the following cold-weather warning for the area for next 24 hours:

Dangerous Cold Weather Warning For the Village of Mamaroneck and the New York Metropolitan Area

During the next 24 hours, extreme cold will enter our region due to a shift in the Jet Stream that travels through northern areas, creating what has come to be known as an Arctic Blast.

The National Weather Service and Accuweather are predicting overnight temperatures for Mamaroneck to drop as low at 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

National Weather Service: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.9487067820005&lon=-73.73262670999963&site=all&smap=1#.VK3E5Lk5C70

Accuweather: http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/mamaroneck-ny/10543/weather-forecast/339690

The dangers of extremely cold temperatures are particularly harmful to infants and the elderly, who are most at risk of injury or harm from such prolonged cold.

Hazards include:

• Frostbite
• Hypothermia
• Frozen pipes
• Damage to vegetation
  

More detailed information is available on the National Weather Service Website, as noted below, and at the following link on their website:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/gid/WCM/awareness/winterdangers.pdf

Cold
Extremely cold temperatures can accompany winter storms and be left in their wake. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible to prolonged exposure to the cold, which can cause potentially life-threatening conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. Below freezing temperatures can damage vegetation and cause pipes to freeze and burst inside homes. Exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. What constitutes extreme cold varies in different parts of the country. In the South, near freezing temperatures are considered extreme cold. In the North, extreme cold means temperatures well below zero. Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to citrus fruit crops andother vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat.

Wind Chill is not the actual temperature, but rather how wind and cold actually feel onexposed skin. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill; however, cars,plants and other objects are not.

Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by extreme cold. A wind chill of -20°Fahrenheit (F) with light winds will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly re-warm affected areas. However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.

Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than95°F, and it can kill. For those who survive, there is likely to be lasting damage to the kidneys, liver and pancreas. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. Take the person’s temperature. If below 95°F, seek medical care immediately!

If Medical Care is Not Available, warm the person slowly, starting with the bodycore. Warming the arms and legs first drives cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heartfailure. If necessary, use your body heat to help. Get the person into dry clothing and wrapthem in a warm blanket, covering the head and neck. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food. Warm broth is an excellent choice.

This warning is from the Village of Mamaroneck, NY