Extreme Cold: Personal, Home Preparedness Tips

PROVIDENCE, RI — Another day of deep chill’s in store for Rhode Island, with Saturday’s temperature 14 degrees and a wind chill feel of -10 degrees at 10 a.m., raising concern about heating, plumbing and personal extreme cold hazards.

Sunday’s high will reach 27 degrees, but the wind will make that feel like -3 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. On Monday, temps rise as high as 34 but that’ll happen as a snow storm is expected to coat the area with as much as nine inches of snow, accompanied by  17 to 20 mph a northeast wind, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Red Cross Extreme Cold Tips

The Red Cross has posted a number of personal and homeowner tips for dealing with extreme cold weather:

Avoid unnecessary exposure to the cold. Be aware of both the temperature and the wind chill when planning outdoor activities. When you prepare to go outside in severe cold weather, please remember the following:

• Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dressing in layers helps you retain heat. You can remove layers as needed if you become too warm.
• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Wear water proof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.

National Weather Service: Extreme Cold Tips

In light of the extreme cold and wind chill, the weather service also lists the following tips:

* IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY...BE SURE TO COVER EXPOSED PIPES
  TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF FROZEN PIPES OR PIPE BURSTS.  

* ENSURE YOUR FURNACES ARE IN WORKING ORDER. FOLLOW MANUFACTURES
  INSTRUCTIONS OR UTILIZE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO ENSURE PROPER
  AND SAFE OPERATION OF YOUR FURNACE.

* NEVER VENTURE OUTDOORS WITHOUT WEARING GLOVES...A HAT AND
  SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHING. 

* RUN WATER AT A TRICKLE AND KEEP CABINET DOORS OPEN TO PREVENT
  PIPES FROM FREEZING.

* NEVER USE A STOVE OR OVEN TO HEAT YOUR HOME OR USE AN OPEN FLAME
  TO MELT FROZEN PIPES. MANY HOUSE FIRES RESULT FROM THESE
  PRACTICES.

* NEVER USE A GENERATOR NEAR OR INSIDE YOUR HOME. CARBON MONOXIDE
  POISONING IS DEADLY.  CHECK OR INSTALL CARBON MONOXIDE
  DETECTORS.

* CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND YOUR CAR BATTERY. BE SURE YOUR CAR HAS
  A WINTER SAFETY KIT THAT INCLUDES A BLANKET...WARM CLOTHES AND
  GLOVES IN CASE YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN OR BECOMES STRANDED.

* TAKE EXTRA STEPS TO KEEP YOUR PETS WARM AND KNOW THEIR LIMITS TO
  COLD.