Beech Tree News Network

Wintertime can bring a wide range of hazards, whether it be exposure to the cold (for you and your animals), slick surfaces and roads that can lead to accidents and falls, or fires resulting from the improper use of heaters. Hundreds of people are injured or killed each year as a direct result of winter weather.

Here are some tips to remember when winter turns especially harsh:

• Stay dry to stay warm! Wet clothes result in much faster heat loss.

• Wear multiple layers. Wool keeps you warmer than cotton because wool fibers trap air pockets and when wool is exposed to damp conditions, it wicks moisture away from your skin and helps keep you dry.  

• Cover everything you can! At least half your body heat can be lost if your head isn’t covered.

• Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.

• Remember the animals! - make sure they have access to melted water, plenty of food, and shelter to keep them protected. 

• Stay informed on the latest weather forecast. All Kentucky National Weather Service offices have a phone line the public can call to get a weather forecast for their areas.  Also, NOAA Weather Radios are specially built radios that only play a recorded forecast and other weather information. These can be purchased in many stores. 

It’s also important to know the signs that someone is getting too cold.  Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness and stiff muscles are all signs of hypothermia and signs that medical attention is needed - call 911 immediately! To warm someone up who is showing signs of hypothermia, lie close to the person and cover both of you with thick blankets. The hotter you get, the more warmth you can give to the other person. Frostbite is another medical emergency that causes damage to the body’s tissue (mainly on extremities such as hands and feet, or any place that is unprotected) due to blood vessels diverting blood to other parts of the body to help keep your vital organs warm. This will cause the affected area to become frozen, and can be a very dangerous situation, especially since it becomes numb and the victim can be unaware of its severity.  

Finally, even though winter will often bring cold and snow, occasionally warm spells in the winter can lead to thunderstorms or flooding. Stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts to know what weather hazards or threats could impact you and your family this upcoming winter. 

For more information visit: https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter 

For more information contact the Butler County Extension Office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service at 102 Parkway Lane, Morgantown or by calling 270-526-3767.  

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider. 

Source: Brandon Peloquin - National Weather Service Wilmington, OH

Jane Marie Wix – National Weather Service Jackson, KY