Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Nov 13 11:02:19 1997


                        November 13, 1997
 
Winter Dangers Present Even Without Extreme Weather
 
     It's human nature. Most people start thinking about winter
survival once weather begins to threaten. Gusty, sustained winds,
heavy snowfall and bone-chilling cold all are conditions
tailor-made for trouble. 
     But problems can crop up anytime, anywhere, once
temperatures drop into the teens and are accompanied by wind
speeds of 25 miles per hour or greater, a fairly routine weather
scenario for this region during much of December, January and
February and beyond. For that reason, a first-aid instructor at
North Dakota State University is telling both highway travelers
and city motorists to be prepared.   
     "You may end up needing your winter gear right in town. The
reason can be something as simple as a flat tire," says Elise
Erickson, a lecturer and the director of athletic training with
the NDSU health, physical education and recreation department.
"What happens if the car slips off the jack? What happens if you
cut yourself when a wrench slips? Injuries can result in heat
loss, blood loss and swelling."
     People who are not properly dressed for winter weather face
considerable dangers from frostbite and hypothermia due to wind
chill. Information contained in "First Responder," a publication
of the National Safety Council charts the danger beginning at 14
F, with a 25-mile- per-hour wind. Similar danger exists at 5 F
with a 15-mile-per-hour wind.  
     During early stages of frostbite, skin, especially ears,
will become bright red and take on a waxy or shiny appearance.
Left untreated, the skin then turns from bright red to a whitish
gray. Loss of feeling is a red flag, Erickson says. People with
this symptom need to be gotten indoors and have the affected area
bathed in warm water immediately. The water should feel
comfortable to a healthy, unfrozen hand.
     "Don't rub a frostbitten area with snow. Don't rub a
frostbitten area at all," cautions Erickson. "Ice crystals have
formed in frozen tissue so rubbing causes damage. Likewise,
people with frostbitten feet should avoid walking."
     Hypothermia, defined as a drop in body temperature below
about 95 F, is not only a winter problem; it can occur in
temperatures as warm as 50 F. People who become cold due to
inadequate or wet clothing are susceptible to hypothermia. One of
the initial signs of hypothermia is shivering. As hypothermia
progresses, shivering actually stops, a fact many people confuse
with improvement. As their body temperatures continue to drop,
hypothermic people become increasingly drowsy and confused. They
may lose their sense of direction, begin feeling false body
sensations such as warmth and become forgetful.  
     "Eventually, they just want to sit and rest for 'just a
minute,'" says Erickson. 
     Circumstances can dictate whether people should remove their
wet clothing. Erickson says people should continue wearing wet
clothes if they've got nothing else to cover exposed skin with.
Wearing a hat will cut body-heat loss in half. Likewise, wearing
gloves and warm socks protects the areas where the effects of
cold temperatures are first felt. And it's best to wear layers of
winter clothing.
     The American Red Cross divides those layers into three
groups: underwear, insulation and an outer shell. Long underwear,
or thin snug-fitting pants with a long-sleeved T-shirt or
turtleneck work well for the first layer. The insulation layer
can include sweaters, sweatshirts or some of the newer insulating
garments. For the outer shell, choose garments that are wind
resistant and preferably waterproof, such as those made of coated
nylon or polyester. Many shells, such as ski-style jackets or
parkas, combine the outer and insulating layers.  
     "I don't create many positive fashion statements during the
winter, but fashion isn't the key. Survival is the key," says
Erickson.
     The Minn-Kota Chapter of the American Red Cross recommends
that winter travelers keep a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit
and a winter survival kit in the passenger compartments of all
their vehicles during the winter months. The following items
should be stored in a three- pound coffee can or another sturdy
container large enough to hold everything:            
 
  * coins taped to cover of kit for telephone calls           
  * foods such as chocolate, raisins, soup, tea, instant coffee, 
     honey and chewing gum                 
  *  candle stubs ("shorties," not more than two inches tall)   
  *  matches (waterproof are best)
  * small, sharp knife
  *  red bandana or cloth for tying to radio antenna
  *  large plastic garbage bag
  *  safety pins (many)
  *  plastic spoons, pencils and notepads, tissue, and crossword  
     puzzles or travel games                 
  *  a plastic whistle
  *  a non-metal flashlight and spare batteries (Reverse
     batteries to avoid accidental burnout while not in use; warm 
     batteries between legs before using.) 
  *  battery-operated radio
  *  solar blanket
  *  a 30-foot cord or homing line for tying around waist and to  
     the vehicle      
  To that list, Erickson adds a deck of playing cards and a small
travel alarm clock. She says today's camping equipment and
dehydrated camping food provide many space-saving options for
winter travelers. As for a homing line, Erickson uses packaged
clothesline cord, which remains intact until needed.
  "I'm not saying you won't find your way back to the car
without a homing line, but the time you may spend groping around
is wasted time. It's extra time you're exposed," says Erickson.  
When severe weather threatens, Erickson suggests moving all
winter survival gear normally stored in the trunk into the
passenger compartment so there are fewer reasons for getting out
of a stranded vehicle. Items she recommends keeping in the trunk
during the winter months include blankets, one for each
passenger; extra sets of dry, winter clothes, including snow
boots, extra hats and mittens or gloves; booster cables; and a
shovel. In addition, the American Red Cross recommends carrying a
tow cable, tire chains and traction sand. 
  As a final bit of advice, Erickson says winter travelers should
identify the route they'll be using before they depart and
estimate departure and arrival times. She concludes, "You should
never travel without telling people your route of travel, both
those at the destination and those you'll be leaving behind."     
                         ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: Elise Erickson (701) 231-8093
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136