Prepared for cold snap?

The Capital Region is about to plunge into the coldest period yet of the season. Are you prepared?

With temperatures expected to dip below zero over the next few nights, the American Red Cross has issued the following cold-weather tips:

·   Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves;

·   Make sure you're wearing a hat - one that covers your ears - as most of your body heat is lost through your head;

·   Dress in layers so you can remove a few layers if you get too warm;

·   Recognize the signs of hypothermia.  It's a serious medical condition.  Some of the symptoms are confusion, dizziness, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, severe shivering, and slurred speech.  Infants who are suffering from hypothermia may appear to have very low energy and bright red, cold skin.   Do not ignore shivering - it is an important first sign that the body is losing heat and a signal to quickly return indoors.  Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of these symptoms;

·   Recognize the signs of frostbite.  Gray, white, or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or a waxy feeling to your skin.  Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of these symptoms;

·   Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket.  Also, drink warm fluids like hot cider or soup while avoiding caffeine or alcohol; and,

·   Since the cold weather puts an extra burden on the heart, make sure you follow your doctor's order regarding any strenuous exercise outside if you have cardiac problems or high blood pressure.

The high costs of natural gas and oil heat may lead many people to use alternative home heating methods.  Wood stoves, space heaters, electric heaters, kerosene heaters, and pellet stoves can be dangerous unless the proper safety precautions are followed, according to the American Red Cross, which has issued the following tips to avoid any exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide:

·   Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially deadly gas.  It is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating;

·   Carbon monoxide is produced by burning fuels such as wood, oil, natural gas, kerosene, coal and gasoline;

·   Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu but do not include a fever.  At lower levels of exposure, a person may experience headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath.  Exposure to very high levels of carbon monoxide can result in loss of consciousness and even death; and,

·   Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.  Let your faucet(s) drip to prevent your water pipes from freezing.  Open your cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall. Keep the heat on and maintain a temperature no lower than 55 degrees.

When traveling, it's best to inform someone of the exact travel route, destination, and anticipated arrival time. Travelers should also remember to keep their gas tanks near full to avoid ice in the tank and in the fuel line. If your vehicle becomes disabled while traveling in this dangerous cold weather, the following actions should be taken:

·   Stay in your car and do not try to walk to safety.  Travelers and should remain in the vehicle until help arrives;

·   Tie a brightly colored cloth - preferably red - to the antenna to make those passing by aware of your problem or for rescuers to see;

·   Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour.  Just remember to keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won't back up in the car;

·   Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so you can be seen;

·   Keep one window open on the side of the car the wind is not blowing against to let air in; and,

·   Keep moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm.

Preventative steps can be taken now to minimize the effects of a power outage or pro-longed blackout.  You should be or should have assembled the following essential supplies:

·   Flashlight;

·   Batteries;

·   Portable Radio;

·   At least one (1) gallon of water; and,

·   A small supply of food.

Also, it's important to note the following:

·   Due to the extreme risk of fire, never use candles;

·   Turn off any and all electrical equipment at the time the power went out;

·   Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer;

·   Do not run a car in the garage with the garage door closed;

·   Do not run a generator inside your home or garage;

·   If you use a generator, do not connect the generator to your home's electrical system.  Connect the equipment you want to use directly to the outlets on the generator;

·   Listen to our local radio and, if possible, watch our local television stations for updated information.