Snows and freezing temperatures remind everyone winter is approaching
A blanket of snow reminded residents of North Central Ohio this week that winter's arrival is upon us.
Falling temperatures and frozen precipitation too often mean house fires, traffic wrecks and emergency room visits — all of which could have been prevented.
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Since the National Weather Service has forecast that every night next week, Richland and Crawford counties will have low temperatures that fall below freezing, experts say now is the time to prepare for a safe winter season.
Plan now for winter storms and cold
Winter safety begins with understanding that major snowstorms and extreme cold can hit anywhere in Ohio, according to Reed Richmond, spokesman for Richland Public Health.
"Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region," Richmond said. "Winter storms can result in flooding, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and hypothermia after prolonged exposure to cold."
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The health department urges everyone to keep snow-removal items stocked, including rock salt to melt ice, sand to improve vehicle traction and shovels or blowers to remove snow.
"Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic," Richmond said.
Having extra clothing, bottled water and shelf-stable foods on hand will make any prolonged power outages a little more bearable, and safe.
Tips for safe winter driving
Traveling in winter means drivers are likely to encounter freezing rain, sleet or even blizzards, according to Sgt. Brice Nihiser, a public information officer for the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Drivers should check now to make sure they have adequate tread on their tires, which should be inflated to the correct pressure.
Even simple trips in town or to work should be planned with extra time so that nobody is speeding in dangerous conditions.
"When there's snow and ice, they need to take it slow," Nihiser said. "The worst thing they could do is rush when there's snow and ice because that's what leads to crashes."
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Speeds should be reduced, distance between vehicles should be increased and headlights should be used anytime there's precipitation or fog.
Blankets, hats and extra gloves should be kept inside the vehicle in case a wreck or engine failure keeps passengers without heat for an extended period of time.
"If you do break down or you are stranded, you can contact us by dialing #677," Nihiser said. "That will put you in contact with the nearest highway patrol post to you. We definitely don't anyone to be stranded in the cold. Troopers are out on the roads throughout the day — we're a 24-hour operation."
Heat your house safely this winter
Sources of heat can become dangerous for a home if not managed properly, explained Mike Thompson, chief of the Shelby Fire Department.
Space heaters and candles often get knocked over while unattended, starting fires almost immediately.
"If it makes heat, keep three feet of space around it," Thompson said. "Blow out candles and turn off space heaters when you leave."
Fire detectors should be checked now to ensure the batteries are in good working order, and that there's at least one on every floor of the home. Carbon monoxide detectors should be kept where residents spend the most time.
Many times in his career, the chief has discovered fires that were started by extension cords or outlets that had too many items plugged into them.
"We even see entire entertainment centers that are plugged into a little brown extension cord and they melt down," Thompson said. "The little brown extension cords are designed for one lamp, that’s it."
Heaters, run only while supervised, should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
House numbers should be visible
House numbers are an important tool for emergency personnel that the average person never even considers during their average day. For some this winter, they will be a matter of life or death.
"Visible house numbers is very important," Thompson said. "I tell people if they don't care about fire and police, they will at least care about Amazon and pizza."
He challenges everyone to drive through any town and look at the variations of house numbers on display: they are on the mailbox, near the front door, or even atop the garage.
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"Just pretend you're in a squad and look for the numbers," Thompson said. "They're all different shapes and sizes."
His favorites are the large, reflective house numbers. He said as long as they are displayed prominently and are free of visible obstructions, it doesn't matter where they are hung.
Anyone who shovels snow from their driveway should be sure to keep both their house numbers and fire hydrants uncovered during the process.
Avoid heart attacks and hypothermia
Working, playing and exercising outdoors during the winter come with a set of risks very different from summer.
One of the least-considered is the strain the heavy snow and clothing can put on a person's cardiovascular system.
"If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold," Richmond said. "Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it."
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There are many other winter concerns, like slipping on ice and causing serious injury, or even decreased body temperature due to wind chill.
The most severe temperature-induced injury is hypothermia. Symptoms for adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. For infants the symptoms are bright red color, cold skin and very low energy.
"If you notice any of these signs, take the person's temperature," Richmond said. "If it is below 95, the situation is an emergency — get medical attention immediately."
The patient should be warmed immediately, and any wet clothing should be removed.
Frostbite is the less severe, but more common. Victims of frostbite rarely know because their skin tissue has become numbed, so they don't feel the pain.
The condition most commonly affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. It begins as redness, then worsens to a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, or numbness.
"Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation," Richmond said. "The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Snows and freezing temperatures remind everyone winter is approaching
