Working Well Resources' Blog

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Today many of you in Chicago and nearby states know it is very very cold. Extremely cold. And these extreme temps can be dangerous. Cold weather often makes us want to stay indoors. But indoor safety hazards like fires resulting from tipped over space heaters or carbon monoxide poisoning resulting can also be safety hazard. The Center for Disease Control has a great list of cold weather safety strategies.

HIghlights from the CDC Winter Weather webpage:

• You may have to cope with power failures and icy roads.
• Many homes will be too cold.
• Space heaters and fireplaces increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Exposure to cold temperature can cause other serious health problems like hypothermia and frostbite.
• When temperatures drop below normal, heat can leave your body more rapidly.
• Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.

Tips on dressing for the cold click here.

Download the extreme cold prevention guide in pdf format. Click here for link.

For more information about frostbite and hypothermia, see Winter Weather: Stay Healthy.

For a fantastic explanation of wind chill and how it affects your body, check out the Wind Chill Chart chart on this page.

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• First Snow Expected, Gear Up for Cold Weather and Snow Removal (prnewswire.com)
• Frostbite – All Information (umm.edu)
• Step Out Safe and Warm with the Right Winter Boots (prweb.com)
• Recognizing & Treating Frostbite in Dogs (current.com)
• Running: Tips to staying fit through cold winter (denverpost.com)
• Some tips for keeping yourself, property safe during winter storms (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
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• Carbon Monoxide: Gaseous Ninja (agordonins.wordpress.com)
• Fire officials urge carbon monoxide detectors (ajc.com)

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