Summer and fall are gone and the winter
months are upon us. Even though
it’s cold outside we still have to work and get the job done. There are several things we can do to
keep warm and prevent cold weather related incidents.
The first thing is to keep our
body temperature at or about normal, 98.6 F. This can be accomplished by wearing layers of clothing both
inside and outdoors. Wear cotton
or lightweight wool next to the skin and wool layers over your underwear. Keep dry by having proper rain gear
available and a pair of good, waterproof boots. An extra pair of clean, dry socks can really come in
handy. Don’t forget to protect
your neck and ears; you can lose a lot of heat from these two areas, and a good
pair of gloves is essential.
Do you know the signs of frostbite? Our skin will become white and you
won’t have much circulation. In
the worst case, blisters will form but you won’t feel any pain. First aid for frostbite is as follows:
NEVER rub the frozen part of the body with snow –Add extra clothing or use a
blanket to cover the frozen area – get out of the cold and into a warm location
– the frozen area may be immersed in warm water but NEVER use hot water – if
the condition does not improve seek professional medical attention.
Another area of concern during cold weather
is the use of portable heaters. If
they are not maintained properly they can cause accidents. Carbon monoxide can result from
defective ventilating and from incomplete fuel burn. Do not use in an explosive or potentially explosive atmosphere. A competent person should check all portable heaters before
being put into use. Locate fuel
containers, regulators, piping and hose where they will not be subject to
damage. LP gas containers not in use
should be stored upright, in a specified outside location and protected against
damage. Containers in use must be
kept in an upright position and secured.
Always be sure to protect the valves from physical damage.
