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Winter Hazard Awareness Week warns of dangers By DAWN SLADE Winter in Minnesota brings a host of snow-related activities, along with a backache from shoveling, frostbitten ears, ice-related injuries and house fires. Winter Hazard Awareness Week in Minnesota is Monday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Nov. 8 to remind residents of winter safety. Snow shoveling Shoveling snow can be a good source of exercise, but taking on too much can have serious ramifications. The Minnesota Safety Council offers the following tips for safe shoveling: ïIndividuals over the age of 40, who are relatively inactive, should be especially careful. ïAvoid shoveling after eating or while smoking. ïSnow shoveling is a weight lifting exercise that raises the heart rate and blood pressure. Warm up before starting, and stretch before and after shoveling. ïIf possible, shovel fresh snow rather than wet, packed-down snow. ïPush the snow forward rather than lifting it, picking up small amounts when necessary. ïUse your legs, not your back. ïTake frequent breaks. Never work until the point of exhaustion. If your chest feels tight, stop immediately. ïDress in layers. Outdoor safety Last winter, five people died in Minnesota when they fell through the ice and 17 people died in snowmobile accidents. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds people: ïNever walk on ice less than four inches thick. Donít snowmobile on less than five inches or drive a car on less than eight inches of new clear ice. ïWarn children to stay away from ice-covered ponds and streams. ïAvoid alcohol, especially when snowmobiling. Alcohol causes the body to lose heat more rapidly, even though the person may feel warmer after drinking alcoholic beverages. ïWatch for frostbite. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, tip of the nose and earlobes. ïDrink plenty of fluids. ïKeep clothes dry - change wet socks and other wet clothing as soon as possible. ïDress in layers. ïWear a hat - more than half of body heat is lost through the top of the head. ïMittens offer better protection than gloves, as gloves allow the fingers to cool much faster than mittens. Children often prefer to play outdoors in the winter months more than adults. Each year emergency rooms in the United States treat thousands of children ages five to 14 for injuries related to ice skating and sledding. Keep the following in mind when allowing children to play outdoors in cold temperatures: ïDress children in several layers of clothing, including boots, mittens and a hat. ïSet reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Have children come in periodically to warm up. ïLimit the amount of time infants are outdoors when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. Infants lose body heat quickly. ïChildren should use the buddy system when ice skating. ïAllow children to sled on gently-sloped terrain and look for an area that is free of obstacles and away from traffic. ïNever pull children in a sled with a motorized vehicle. Fire safety Sixty-three percent of all heating fires in Minnesota involved fireplaces or chimneys, according to the Minnesota Public Safety Department (MPS). Residential fires accounted for 87 percent of all fire deaths in Minnesota last year. MPS reminds residents to "Watch What You Heat," this winter. Safety around heating equipment and appliances is an important first step in reducing fires. ïKeep children and loose clothing away from portable heaters, stoves and fire. ïAlways turn off portable heating appliances when leaving home or retiring for the evening. ïHave chimneys, fireplaces and other heating devices inspected by a qualified professional at the start of the heating season. ïUse a sturdy screen or glass closure in front of the fireplace and burn only clean firewood. Never burn treated lumber. ïInstall smoke detectors on every level of the home, including the basement. Test them monthly. ïIf there is a gas smell in the home, leave and contact the local utility company or a professional heating contractor. Stay safe and enjoy the winter.
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