Threatening Cold Weather To Come – How To Stay Safe

Weather forecasts for this week call for dangerously low wind chill temperatures that could reach -35 to -45 degrees. The American Red Cross has issued the following release on how to stay safe in these conditions.

[DES MOINES, IOWA] January 28, 2019— Frigid air has hit Iowa and is expected to get even colder later this week. To stay safe, the American Red Cross has steps people can take during this hazardous weather.

“Forecasters predict this will be Iowa’s coldest snap in more than 20 years. The extreme cold can be life-threatening as temperatures could dip between -10 and -30 degrees.,” said Leslie Schaffer, Executive Director of the Iowa Red Cross Region. “We at the Red Cross want to make sure everyone knows how to prepare and safely ride out these winter conditions.”

COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS – Here are ten ways to stay safe during this latest round of cold temperatures:

1. Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
2. Know the signs of hypothermia – confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
3. Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
4. Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
5. Avoid frozen pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
6. Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
7. Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
8. If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
9. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.

Learn how to treat cold weather related emergencies by downloading the free Red Cross First Aid App at redcross.org/apps. More information about winter safety is available on redcross.org.      

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.