It’s been cold this week, with highs barely breaking the freezing mark, but the air is expected to get even colder, with lows near 10 degrees — and snow and ice are in the forecast.
This type of weather poses dangers ranging from home heating hazards to health conditions that can be fatal.
Arkadelphia Fire Chief Ricky Arnold urges residents to take precautions.
First, “Watch your neighbors or friends who are elderly. Check in on them and make sure everything is all right with them. Make sure they’re staying warm.” Check on them and their homes at least twice a day to make sure they have heat and have taken proper steps to make it through the cold.
Also make sure your own home is ready for the freeze. Protect interior and exterior water pipes by wrapping them in bubble wrap or clothes, or by leaving water dripping from faucets. “Water is cheap — pipes aren’t,” Arnold said. Open the cabinet underneath your kitchen sink to allow some heat to get to the pipes, also.
Have all heaters checked out, especially electric “space heaters,” he said. “There’s no telling how many house fires we’ve put out because of space heaters.” The problem with such heat sources is that people either ignore the wattage capacity or leave flammable objects nearby. “Watch space heaters and don’t leave stuff around them. Do not use cheap extension cords. If you need to use one, make sure the cord is heavy enough to carry the wattage of the heater.”
Though the Arkadelphia Fire Department does not typically contend with such cold-weather-related health conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, “the possibility is always there. It’s going to be bitter cold” for the rest of the week.
Hypothermia can affect the elderly more than others because they may not realize the seriousness of the situation. According to the Centers for Disease Control Web site, more than 50 percent of all hypothermia deaths occur in people 60 or older. Signs of hypothermia include confusion or sleepiness; slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing; a weak pulse and low blood pressure; a change in behavior during cold weather or a change in the way a person looks; excess shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs; and poor control over body movements or slow reactions.
Frostbite is another serious condition. Symptoms include burning, numbness, tingling, itching or cold sensations in the affected areas. The regions appear white and frozen, but when pressed on, they retain some resistance.
If you detect any symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite, seek medical attention immediately. Arnold also recommends that if you are going to be traveling, be sure to pack with you blankets, food, water, and a First Aid kit, in case you become stranded.
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It’s been cold this week, with highs barely breaking the freezing mark, but the air is expected to get even colder, with lows near 10 degrees — and snow and ice are in the forecast.
This type of weather poses dangers ranging from home heating hazards to health conditions that can be fatal.
Arkadelphia Fire Chief Ricky Arnold urges residents to take precautions.
First, “Watch your neighbors or friends who are elderly. Check in on them and make sure everything is all right with them. Make sure they’re staying warm.” Check on them and their homes at least twice a day to make sure they have heat and have taken proper steps to make it through the cold.
Also make sure your own home is ready for the freeze. Protect interior and exterior water pipes by wrapping them in bubble wrap or clothes, or by leaving water dripping from faucets. “Water is cheap — pipes aren’t,” Arnold said. Open the cabinet underneath your kitchen sink to allow some heat to get to the pipes, also.
Have all heaters checked out, especially electric “space heaters,” he said. “There’s no telling how many house fires we’ve put out because of space heaters.” The problem with such heat sources is that people either ignore the wattage capacity or leave flammable objects nearby. “Watch space heaters and don’t leave stuff around them. Do not use cheap extension cords. If you need to use one, make sure the cord is heavy enough to carry the wattage of the heater.”
Though the Arkadelphia Fire Department does not typically contend with such cold-weather-related health conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, “the possibility is always there. It’s going to be bitter cold” for the rest of the week.
Hypothermia can affect the elderly more than others because they may not realize the seriousness of the situation. According to the Centers for Disease Control Web site, more than 50 percent of all hypothermia deaths occur in people 60 or older. Signs of hypothermia include confusion or sleepiness; slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing; a weak pulse and low blood pressure; a change in behavior during cold weather or a change in the way a person looks; excess shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs; and poor control over body movements or slow reactions.
Frostbite is another serious condition. Symptoms include burning, numbness, tingling, itching or cold sensations in the affected areas. The regions appear white and frozen, but when pressed on, they retain some resistance.
If you detect any symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite, seek medical attention immediately. Arnold also recommends that if you are going to be traveling, be sure to pack with you blankets, food, water, and a First Aid kit, in case you become stranded.
