Winter Weather

Winter weather in North Dakota can bring cold temperatures. Try to stay indoors during extremely cold weather – make any trips outside as brief as possible and remember these tips below to protect your health and safety.

Dress warmly and stay dry by wearing:

• • •  a hat
    • a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
    • sleeves that are snug at the wrist
    • mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
    • water-resistant coat and boots
    • several layers of loose-fitting clothing
      

      What is hypothermia?

      Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced, and the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F. Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

      What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

      • Mild symptoms:
        • An exposed person is alert.
        • He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in order to generate heat.
      • Moderate to Severe symptoms:
        • As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop.
        • The person may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, become confused and disoriented
        • He or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.

      What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia?

      • Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
      • Move the person to a warm room or vehicle.
      • Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face.
      • If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:
        • Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person.
        • Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming instructions.
      • If a person is not breathing or has no pulse:
        • Call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately.
        • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the person responds or medical aid becomes available.

      What is frostbite?

      Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

      What are the symptoms of frostbite?

      • Numbness in the affected body part
      • Tingling or stinging
      • Aching
      • Bluish or pale, waxy skin
      • Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

      What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?

• • • • Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
      • Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
      • Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
      • Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
      • Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
      • Do not massage the frostbitten area; doing so may cause more damage.
      • Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.