If you are working outdoors, traveling or enjoying winter sports, take the following precautions: • Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots. • Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches. • Learn safety precautions to follow when outdoors. o Be aware of the wind chill factor. o Work slowly when doing outside chores. o Take a buddy and an emergency kit when you are participating in outdoor recreation. o Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories. o If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival. o Carry a cell phone. Frost Bite Warnings signs of hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. Seek medical attention quickly. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures. At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb. If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. If there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows: • Get into a warm room as soon as possible. • Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage. • Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body). • Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers. • Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage. • Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned. Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages. • Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers. • Keep an up-to-date emergency kit, including: o battery-operated devices, such as a flashlight, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and lamps o extra batteries o first-aid kit and extra medicine o baby items o cat litter or sand for icy walkways Protect you and your family against Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Fireplaces, wood stoves and portable heaters and generators are often used when power outages occur. These and other appliances produce carbon monoxide, which can be fatal if people are exposed to high levels even for a brief time. CO cannot be seen or smelled and can kill in minutes. Tips to avoid CO poisoning include: • Never run a generator or any petroleum-fueled (kerosene, propane, gasoline) engine or appliance inside a basement, garage or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented. • Keep vents and flues free of debris, especially if winds are high. Flying debris can block ventilation lines. • Never run a motor vehicle, generator or any gasoline-powered engine outside an open window, door or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area. • Regularly check and properly maintain fuel-burning appliances, especially when in use. Carefully monitor household members for signs of CO poisoning. Exposure to CO can cause loss of consciousness and death. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms. Anyone who suspects symptoms of CO poisoning should go outside and seek fresh air immediately. If a person has collapsed or is not breathing, call 9-1-1 for emergency medical assistance immediately from a safe location. Make sure your car is winterized. • Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level; check tire tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires • Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. • Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer. • Keep a winter emergency kit in your car in case you become stranded. Include: o blankets o food and water o booster cables, flares, tire pump and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction) o compass and maps o flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries o first-aid kit o plastic bags (for sanitation). Learn safety rules to follow in case you become stranded in your car. • Stay with your car unless safety is no more than 100 yards away, but continue to move arms and legs. • Stay visible by putting bright cloth on the antenna, turning on the inside overhead light (when engine is running), and raising the hood when snow stops falling. • Run the engine and heater only 10 minutes every hour. • Keep a downwind window open. • Make sure the tailpipe is not blocked. Visit www.kdheks.gov for more winter weather tips.