Preparation is key for winter woes
by Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com December 20, 2010 5:38PM
A couple walks away from their car after it slid off Interstate 80 near Joliet last year. AAA recommends people stay with their vehicles after a winter accident. | Michael R. Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
SeniorS especially vulnerable
Cold weather can mean special trouble for seniors, according to the Health Care Council of Illinois.
Falling temperatures are risky for everyone but can be fatal for the elderly.
According to a press release from the group, seniors are particularly susceptible to complications from winter weather. Falls, influenza and hypothermia top the list of perils.
The council, the largest nursing home association in Illinois, is offering tips on how to keep the elderly safe and comfortable as temperatures and wind chills dip below zero.
“We want to share some of our tips to ensure the continued welfare and safety of thousands of older Illinoisans throughout the state,” said Pat Comstock, executive director of the Health Care Council. “Illinois nursing home staff do an excellent job of protecting residents from extreme cold and related conditions, and have much to impart.”
Here’s some advice from the council for protecting elderly friends, family and neighbors from cold weather-related illnesses and injuries:
Ensure loved ones wear hats, mittens, scarves and a warm coat and layers when going outside.
Provide proper footwear for seniors — outdoors, a rubber sole shoe with treads for ice and snow; indoors, a shoe with a thin rubber sole or rough leather sole.
Make sure sidewalks and driveways are clear and sanded or salted.
Keep apartment and room temperatures set at 70 degrees or warmer.
Inspect the heating unit and make sure it is in good working condition.
Arrange for plenty of blankets to keep older family members or friends warm while they sleep.
Talk with older people about the importance of eating nutritious foods and drinking fluids. An improper diet can lead to a lowered immune system.
Be aware of medications seniors are taking, because certain medications can cause dizziness or affect the blood vessels’ ability to respond to temperature changes.
Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use tissues when blowing your nose, and dispose of used tissues immediately to stop viruses from spreading. Wash your hands thoroughly to prevent circulating the flu or other illnesses.
Seniors, their families and their caregivers should be aware that winter increases the risk for falls, influenza and hypothermia.
Falls, always a concern for older persons, are more likely when ice and snow make walking outdoors more difficult. Falls and their consequences are one of the leading causes of death in people 65 years and older.
Influenza cases increase in winter. With some seniors having weakened immune systems, it is important that they avoid contact with those who have symptoms of the flu.
Hypothermia is a condition of below-normal body temperature and can occur when the body’s temperature is at or below 96 degrees. People older than 75 are five times more likely to die from hypothermia than those younger than 75.
From submitted reports
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Updated: April 19, 2011 5:30AM
This time of year, when temperatures dip below freezing and the wind kicks up, the best place to observe the spectacle of a ferocious winter storm is indoors, looking out.
Unfortunately, most people have to go out in the elements sometime. And winter, and all it entails, can be more dangerous than you think.
Winter hit the area hard recently when a monster snowstorm immobilized Northwest Indiana and stranded more than 70 drivers.
“We tell people that if you’re stranded to stay with your car. That’s how emergency responders are best going to find you and best able to help you,” said Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for Chicago AAA. “We can’t stress it enough: take preventative measures now, so if you are stranded in your car you have the things you need to keep you warm and make it through.”
Pack your car with blankets, hats and gloves, a flashlight, water and a reflective triangle, AAA recommends.
If you end up stranded in your vehicle, only run the engine long enough to keep warm. Check the exhaust pipe to make sure it’s not clogged with snow.
“Don’t wait until your gas is close to empty to fill up,” Mosher said. “When it’s this cold and your gas is half full, that’s the time to enter the gas station.”
Shovel snow carefully
Just trying to clear a path from your house can be dangerous in itself.
Recently, a Plainfield teen cut off three fingers while trying to clear out a clogged snowblower.
And that teenager won’t be the only one hurt clearing snow this year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates there are approximately 5,740 hospital emergency room-related injuries associated with snowblowers each year.
“Never, ever, ever put your hands down from the top or in from the front (of a snowblower),” said Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton. “If you have to do some maintenance or work on the thing, shut it completely off.”
Most frequently, snowblower injuries occurred when consumers tried to clear the collector or discharge chute with their hands, the CPSC reports.
The commission suggests using a long stick to clear out the machine, and urges users not to leave the machines running in an enclosed area for long.
Clearing snow the old fashioned way — with a shovel — has its share of risks.
If you’re getting winded shoveling heavy, wet snow, take a break, Stratton said. Don’t try to tackle it all at once. And don’t hesitate to ask someone to help you finish the job.
“If you start feeling dizzy or have some cramps or something (take a break),” he said, adding that shovelers must also stay well-hydrated.
Dangers of thin ice
Stratton said he recently reminded his staff to prepare for the inevitable rescue from a frozen pond.
Frozen ponds can be enticing, especially to kids. Many times, however, the ponds aren’t frozen as solid as they look.
Never assume ice is safe, said officials from the Joliet police and fire departments in a recent press release.
“It’s hard to get out of those things,” Stratton said. “Get your elbows up (out of the water) and yell for help. That’s the best thing to do.”
If you fall through thin ice, Joliet police say, once you’ve got your arms up onto the ice, try kicking your feet to inch forward up onto the ice. If the ice breaks, slide forward again and keep trying.
Anyone with the victim should call for help immediately. People on shore — even parents — should not crawl out onto the ice because they could become victims too, Stratton said.
Adults can try to toss the victim something to help stay afloat, such as an empty milk jug, Joliet officials say.
If the victim manages to get out onto the ice, he or she should roll away from the hole instead of trying to stand, Joliet officials say.
Whether you’re driving somewhere in a winter storm or going outside to play, make sure you tell someone where you’re going and what time you expect to be home, officials say, and carry a cell phone with you in case of emergency.
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