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Residents asked to check on neighbors

SALEM — While area schools closed today and some shut down Thursday to protect students from the deep freeze, Salem’s new city Health Commissioner Lynle Hayes asked residents to also check on their elderly neighbors and family members as temperatures plunge.

“Make sure their heat and electricity is working and they don’t need anything,” she said.

Hayes cautioned that some older folks already have problems with mobility and even going out for a short time could have an effect on them. According to a press release from the Ohio Office on Aging, some of the questions to ask an older relative or friend about their preparedness could pertain to a backup supply of daily medications, access to necessary medical equipment, spare batteries and an alternative power source if the electric goes off and a safe place to go if their home becomes unsafe, such as the furnace going out or power going out.

Access to a phone that works without power or a landline could be a necessity. Also check on their supply of food and water. All families should have a winter preparedness plan if for some reason they can’t leave their home for an extended period of time due to the weather conditions, the press release said. An emergency kit should included a battery-operated radio, flashlight, extra batteries, easily prepared food that can easily be opened, extra blankets, water and first aid supplies.

Hayes said if the power does go out, which can happen in the winter, people should layer up on clothing and coordinate a temporary living situation if the house drastically loses heat during an outage.

If residents must go outside for anything, she said they should heat up the car before getting in, especially if they have small children or elderly family members. Outside activities should be limited to short time frames and if being outside for an extended time is necessary, such as outside work, cover all exposed areas of skin.

With snow and ice also comes a greater risk for falls, so appropriate shoes or boots with traction are a good idea. Take care to walk on treated surfaces and give extra time to get to destinations.

Hayes referred to reports from the Centers for Disease Control on tips to prevent and recognize symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite was defined as “a bodily injury caused by freezing that results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas,” with frostbite most often affecting the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. People with poor blood circulation and who aren’t properly dressed for the extremely cold temperatures can be more susceptible.

Signs of frostbite can include numbness, skin that feels “unusually firm or waxy” and a white or grayish yellow skin area, but could start with redness or pain in a skin area. Hypothermia, defined as abnormally low body temperature, can also occur and requires emergency medical care, especially since it can affect the brain and affect a person’s ability to think or move.

Warning signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. For infants, the signs can include bright red, cold skin and very low energy.

According to the CDC, “if there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and no immediate medical care is available, proceed as follows: get into a warm room as soon as possible; unless necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes as this increases damage; immerse the affected area in warm, not hot, water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body); or, warm the affected area using body heat, for example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers; do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it, this can cause more damage; don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming, affected areas are numb and can be easily burned. These procedures are not substitutes for proper medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and frostbite should be evaluated by a health care provider.”

Victims of hypothermia can include elderly people without enough food, clothing or heat, babies sleeping in cold bedrooms, people who remain outside for long periods of time, such as the homeless, hunters or hikers and people who use alcohol or illicit drugs.

The CDC press release on hypothermia said if a person’s temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s an emergency and medical help should be sought. If help isn’t available, start warming the person. Any wet clothing should be removed and the victim should be taken into a warm room or shelter.

“Warm the center of the body first–chest, neck, head, and groin–using an electric blanket, if available. You can also use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Warm beverages can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck. Get medical attention as soon as possible,” the press release said.

Hayes said anyone with questions pertaining to cold weather preparations can contact the Salem City Health Department at 330-332-1618. There are also many resources available online at www.aging.ohio.gov/safeathome or www.ema.ohio.gov or www.cdc.gov.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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