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Extreme Cold a Threat to Health and Safety, Even Indoors

January 11, 2005

The state Department of Public Health and Human Services warned Tuesday that Montanans should take precautions to protect their health and safety if an anticipated arctic cold front plunges temperatures to well below zero.

"A lot of Montanans take pride in being unfazed by a little frigid weather," said Dr. Robert Wynia, director of DPHHS. "But they should keep in mind that exposure to extreme cold can put their health and safety at risk. That's especially true for infants and the elderly."

Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia, he noted. Overexertion during cold snaps puts a greater burden on the heart and can precipitate a heart attack. Even staying indoors has its risks.

"If you use a fireplace or space heater to stay warm, there's a greater risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning," Wynia said.

He suggested that Montanans check in daily during extremely cold weather on elderly friends, family, or neighbors who live alone. He also recommended taking the following precautions:

Prepare your home

A key to weathering an extreme cold snap is to plan for it. When forecasters predict bitter weather, make sure you have plenty of:

  • food that does not require cooking or refrigeration, such as bread, crackers, peanut butter, canned food and fruit (in case of power outages);
  • bottled water or tap water stored in clean containers (in case pipes freeze and break);
  • medications you require (in case travel is restricted);
  • batteries for flashlights, lamps, and radios;
  • matches for lighting candles;
  • warm clothing, including hats and gloves; and
  • extra blankets or sleeping bags.

It's also a good idea to have an alternate way to heat your home, such as a fireplace, wood stove, kerosene heater, or electric space heater. Make sure you have an adequate supply of fuel.

Prepare your car

If you must travel during the cold spell, equip your car with a winter survival kit that includes:

  • a flashlight and extra batteries;
  • a windshield scraper;
  • a first aid kit;
  • a tool kit;
  • paper towels;
  • extra clothes;
  • matches and candles;
  • booster cables;
  • a compass;
  • road maps;
  • sand or cat litter;
  • tire chains;
  • a collapsible shovel;
  • blankets;
  • a container of drinking water; and
  • high-calorie, nonperishable food.

Keep your gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Never warm up your car by letting it idle in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, like a closed garage.

Heat your home safely

If you must use an alternate heating system, be extremely careful. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember these safety tips:

  • Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home;
  • Use fireplace, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they're properly vented to the outside;
  • Make sure you have adequate ventilation if you must use a kerosene heater;
  • Use only the type of fuel your heater is designed to use-don't substitute;
  • Don't place a space heater within three feet of anything that may catch on fire, and never cover a space heater;
  • Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water;
  • Never leave children or pets unattended near a space heater;
  • Avoid using extension cords to plug in a space heater; and
  • Store a multipurpose dry-chemical fire extinguisher near the area you're trying to heat.

Light and cook safely

If there's a power failure:

  • Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles whenever possible;
  • Never leave lighted candles unattended;
  • Never use a portable camping stove or a charcoal or gas grill indoors, because the fumes are deadly;
  • Never use an electric generator indoors, in the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; and
  • Don't store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.

If you don't already have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, install them as soon as possible. And don't forget to check the batteries regularly.

Conserve heat

While indoors, try to keep at least one room heated to 70 degrees. This is especially important for the elderly and small children, to prevent hypothermia.

Infants lose body heat more easily than adults and can't warm themselves by shivering. Older adults often produce less body heat because their metabolism has slowed and they engage in less physical activity. People over age 65 also are less able to feel changes in temperature, so they should check an indoor thermometer often.

You can also conserve heat by avoiding alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature. Eating hot well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer, too.

When venturing outdoors, wear layered clothing for better protection from the cold. Wear a hat to avoid rapid heat loss from an uncovered head, and cover exposed skin to avoid frostbite.

Avoid overexertion

Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart, because your body is already working harder to keep warm. If you are elderly or have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold.

If you must do outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Don't smoke, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages, or eat a heavy meal before shoveling.

Heart attacks are not always sudden and intense. Warning signs include discomfort or pain in the center of the chest; discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; and/or breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadness. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Minutes matter!

Avoid falling on ice

Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand can also help reduce the risk of slipping.

Wear boots with deep lug soles. For extra stability, try wearing traction cleats that attach to the bottoms of your boots much like tire chains.

If you do fall, and you strike your head, don't assume you're fine just because you see no blood or fracture. Even if the skull is not fractured, the brain can bang against the inside of the skull and be bruised, causing a concussion. The head may look fine, but complications could result from bleeding inside the skull. S igns of a head injury may develop slowly over several hours.

For a mild head injury, no specific treatment may be needed. However, closely monitor whether any symptoms develop over the next 24 hours.

Get medical help immediately if you:

  • Becomes unusually drowsy;
  • Develop a severe headache or stiff neck;
  • Vomit more than once;
  • Lose consciousness, even briefly; or
  • Notice your behavior is abnormal.

Prevent hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Because a body temperature that is too low affects the brain, many victims are unable to think clearly and may not realize what is happening. Other symptoms include slurred speech, memory lapses, stumbling and decreased coordination, uncontrollable shivering, and drowsiness.

The elderly and infants are among those at greatest risk of hypothermia. In infants, the condition causes bright red, cold skin and a very low energy level.

If you notice any of these signs, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, get medical help immediately. If you can't get medical care, get the person into a warm room or shelter and do the following:

  • Remove any wet clothing;
  • Warm the head and trunk of the body first using an electric blanket or skin-to-skin contact;
  • Provide warm nonalcoholic beverages if the person is conscious;
  • After the body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in warm blankets, including the head and neck; and
  • Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Prevent frostbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin becomes cold enough to actually freeze. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. It can cause permanent damage and may even lead to amputation.

Those most vulnerable to frostbite include people with poor blood circulation and those who don't dress properly for extreme cold. Signs are numbness, a whitish or grayish-yellow skin area, and skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

If you see signs of frostbite, seek medical care. Also, check for symptoms of hypothermia, a more serious medical condition requiring emergency medical assistance. If there is frostbite but no hypothermia and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

  • Get the victim into a warm room as soon as possible;
  • Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes unless absolutely necessary;
  • Immerse the affected area in warm-not hot-water, or warm the area using body heat;
  • Do not massage the frostbitten area or rub it with snow; and
  • Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. It is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns, and gas ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. If you think you may have CO poisoning, get away from the source of the gas and consult a health care professional right away.

You can find these tips on the DPHHS Web site at www.dphhs.mt.gov . For additional information, visit the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/

Page last updated: 06/15/2006