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While hypothermia generally occurs at very cold temperatures, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that it can happen even at cool
temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or
submersion in cold water.
As winter approaches, it’s important to know the warning signs of
hypothermia and what to do if you notice those signs.
Warnings Signs of Hypothermia
Adults:
- Body
temperature below 95 degrees
- Uncontrollable
shivering
- Exhaustion
- Confusion,
fumbling hands
- Memory
loss, disorientation
- Incoherence,
slurred speech
- Drowsiness
Infants:
- Bright
red, cold skin
- Very low
energy
If someone is suffering from hypothermia, get medical attention
immediately and begin warming the person until help arrives. Find several ways
to warm a person on the CDC’s Hypothermia page.
If you must go outside, prevent hypothermia by:
- Wearing
several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one
layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water
repellent.
- Wear
mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
- Cover
all of your body. Wear a hat and a scarf, covering your mouth to protect your
face and to help prevent loss of body heat.
For more information on how to prepare for the winter, visit the
America’s PrepareAthon! Winter Storm section.
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According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), half of all home heating fires occur in
December, January and February. So now is the time to make sure your home
heating device is safe, before the weather turns bitter cold. Follow these USFA
heating tips to maintain a fire safe home this winter.
- Keep
anything that can burn at least three (3) feet from all heat sources including
fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles.
- Never
use an oven to heat your home.
- Maintain
heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by
a qualified professional.
For more information
on how to keep specific heating devices safe, such as a furnace, space heater,
kerosene heater, fireplace or wood stove, visit the USFA’s Heating Fire Safety page.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
released their Winter Outlook ,
which predicts La Niña
conditions that favor a warmer, drier South and a cooler, wetter North. Winter storms can occur anywhere and bring freezing rain, ice,
snow, high winds or a combination of all these conditions. They can cause power
outages that last for days or weeks; making it hard to keep warm and making
travel very dangerous. Prepare now in case a winter storm hits, and you are home for
several days without power and heat.
- Gather emergency
supplies, make a family emergency communication plan, and discuss emergency notifications and expectations with
your workplace and/or schools.
- Install battery-powered
or battery back-up carbon monoxide detectors.
- If you have a
generator, keep it outside and have an electric cord long enough to keep the
generator at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
- Make specific plans for
how you will avoid driving.
- Be alert to changing
weather conditions using local alerts,
radio, and other news sources for information and instructions.
Find
additional tips by visiting the America’s PrepareAthon! Winter Storm section and
downloading the How to Prepare for a Winter Storm Guide.
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In observance of National Native
American Heritage Month, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division
and the Office of External Affairs, Tribal Affairs will host a webinar on Wednesday,
November 30 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET focusing on disaster preparedness and
resilience efforts serving tribal communities. You’ll hear several leaders who
have worked to put preparedness into action by developing successful
community-based initiatives and receive related program resources.
Title: Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month
through Community Preparedness
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
Featured
Speakers:
- Tim
Zientek, Director of Emergency Management, Potawatomi Nation
- Jeff
Hansen, Director of Emergency Management, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Hailey
Starr and Sarah Clark, Muckleshoot Tribal School
- Milo Booth,
National Tribal Affairs Advisor, Office
of External Affairs, FEMA
How to Join the Webinar:
We hope that you will be able to join us on November 30!
Disclaimer: The reader recognizes that the federal
government provides links and informational data on various disaster
preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal events,
entities, organizations, services or products. Please let us know about other
events and services for individual and community preparedness that could be
included in future newsletters by contacting citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov.
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