Cold Weather

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 accidents.

The first thing we want to do is to keep our body temperature at or about normal, 98.6F. 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. All portable heaters should be checked by a competent person 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.

Cold weather is here to stay for a few months -- keep your guard up against cold weather injury.

ALL LIQUID CONTAINERS MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED AS TO CONTENTS. LABELS SHOULD BE EASY TO READ AND CONTAINERS STORED CORRECTLY.

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