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Slow Down Move Over ______________________________________________________________________________
Emergency Medical Services Workers:
Preventing Injuries and Exposures - Click here>> for more information on EMS Safety ______________________________________________________________________________ Winter Safety Tips
Do NOT drive while
fatigued Avoid Excessive Speed Wear Seat Belts
Prepare Yourself: REMEMBER,
INCIDENTS TAKE NO HOLIDAYS OR TIME OFF
- “SAFETY FIRST”
Know What Storm
‘Watches’ and ‘Warnings’ Mean
When a Storm ‘Watch’ is IssuedListen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio, and TV stations, or
cable TV such as The Weather Channel for further updates. Be alert to changing weather conditions. Avoid unnecessary travel.
When a Storm
‘Warning’ is Issued
Stay indoors during the storm. Understand the hazards of wind chill, which
combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from
a person’s body at an accelerated rated, driving down the body temperature.
Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you
must… Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk. Keep your car’s gas tank full for emergency use. Let someone know your destination, your route,
and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can
be sent along your predetermined route.
If You Get Stuck
Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to
safety. Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to
the antenna for rescuers to see. Leave the overhead light on when the engine is
running so that you can be seen. Keep one window away from
the blowing wind slightly open to let in air.
Avoid Hypothermia: Cold temperatures can be a
fatal. Once exposed to cold or freezing temperature for long periods of
time, we run the risk of losing a serious amount of body heat. If not treated
immediately, this could lead to brain damage and even death. It is important to
know how to avoid hypothermia.
During
the colder days, we should be aware of the signs and symptoms of cold stress or
cold-induced injuries like hypothermia and frostbite.
Signs
and symptoms of hypothermia:
• Cool skin
• Slower, irregular breathing
• Slower heartbeat
• Weak pulse
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Severe shaking
• Rigid muscles
• Drowsiness
• Exhaustion
• Slurred speech
• Memory lapses
Signs and symptoms of frostbite:
• Paleness of the skin
• Sensation of coldness or pain
• Pain disappears after a while with the freezing of the tissues.
• Tissues become increasingly whiter and harder.
Use a buddy system: This is not the time to
enjoy solitude while accomplishing your tasks outdoors. You don’t want to be
working one minute and thawing your fingers the next. So get a partner and work
on monitoring each other for signs of cold stress. Don’t be stubborn because
most of the time, it’s just difficult to determine danger signs when you only
have yourself to rely on.
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