ST. GEORGE – The American Red Cross offers the following winter safety tips and cautions.
- Myth: A flask of Schnapps in the parka helps keep you warm
- Fact: Alcohol actually causes the body to lose heat
- Myth: Rubbing frostbitten areas of the body with snow is a good emergency measure
- Fact: This actually can cause more damage
- Myth: Wind chill just makes it feel colder but does not worsen the effect on body heat loss
- Fact: The “feels like” temperature has the same effect on the body in terms of heat loss, frostbite, hypothermia, et cetera as if that were the actual temperature
- Myth: Treat frostbite with hot water
- Fact: Because of numbness, hot water can be dangerous; instead, warm the area with water that is lukewarm or with body heat such as the heat of the armpit
- Myth: Lake ice that has been frozen a long time is safer
- Fact: Ice frozen for two weeks under same conditions and thickness is at the optimal safety level; furthermore, river ice can be far more dangerous
- Myth: Gas mileage for cars is consistent anytime of year
- Fact: Gas mileage decreases with cold weather
- Myth: A fireplace is a good economical way to heat the house
- Fact: An open fireplace is an energy loser with most heat going out the chimney; keep the damper tightly closed when not in use as hot air rises anyway
- Myth: Space heaters save money
- Fact: While they serve the purpose of supplemental heat in more confined areas they are not efficient at all and also can be a safety hazard
Did you know?
- An improperly vented fireplace can cause carbon monoxide poisoning
- Prewarming your car in the garage without proper ventilation is extremely dangerous
- Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on skin while de-icing or fueling car or snowmobile or blower as these materials in contact with skin increase heat loss
- Letting a faucet drip slowly prevents freezing
- For pipes located in walls behind kitchen cabinets, leaving doors open helps prevent freezing
- Infants and the elderly lose body heat more easily than adults and are more at risk
- Frozen rivers are more dangerous that frozen lakes
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- Stocking your vehicle for winter; what to do in case of emergency, checklist
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- Giving blood is always in season; American Red Cross, Nexcare partner to save lives
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Alcohol may contribute to body heat loss, but it contributes to my well being by helping my brain forget about the cold. Cheers!
Liquor is quicker!
Dear Sagemoon, Your application for the Darwin Award has been accepted. You’ll be the first to know if you’re chosen. Sincerely, the Darwin Advisory Committee.
Hic!!!
LOL, I would be honored! Pass the salt and limes, please.
LOL, who the heck is rubbing snow on frostbite? Is that a utah thing?
I’ve heard it in other states. It’s bad news no matter where you live or where you visit.