With dangerously cold temperatures expected throughout the weekend, MercyOne Genesis is sending out some winter weather safety tips.
MercyOne Genesis says warning signs of hypothermia include confusion or sleepiness, slow and slurred speech, shallow breathing, and poor control of body movements or slowed reactions. If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms while being exposed to cold temperatures, you should get inside a warm room or shelter, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head, groin), and drink a warm beverage.
Warning signs of frostbite include a white or grayish-yellow area on the skin, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness. If you’re experiencing signs of frostbite, you’re recommended to seek medical care. If none is available, you should get into a warm room as soon as possible, avoid walking or using frostbitten extremities, and immerse the injured area in warm water. You shouldn’t use a heating pad or heat lamp because injured areas can quickly burn.
Another tip is to tell someone where you are going if you leave the house during a storm, and when you expect to return.