There is a record-breaking arctic storm in the United States right now, and experts are telling us what to do to get ready for the freezing weather and strong winds.
There was an icy storm over the United States not long ago, which made some places 30 degrees below zero. It’s also pushed back events like an NFL playoff game, and the whole country has been hit by blizzards.
It’s still a wind chill watch in 26 states as of Sunday, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. It is 30 degrees below zero in Chicago, so the city has had to use its “emergency operation plan for extreme cold” to get people ready for the cold and give them important information on how to stay safe.
The weather in your home should stay the same during the day and at night, according to experts. It should be at least 55 degrees if you’re leaving town or going away for days at a time. They also say that to keep pipes from freezing, you should open cupboard doors and let warm air flow through the cabinets. You can also leave your garage doors closed if there are water lines or heaters inside. To keep the water moving in your pipes, let your faucets drip a little.
A scientist from the National Weather Service said that people who aren’t dressed right for the weather could get frostbite or become too cold. Frostbite can cause numbness, skin that is white or gray, or skin that feels very hard or like wax.
It was also said by experts that you shouldn’t rub your hands if you have frostbite because it damages the flesh. Also, they said that if you think you have frostbite, you should cover the area because letting cold air hit frostbite skin can hurt nerves.
When your body temperature is low, you may move and respond more slowly. They stated, “This makes hypothermia especially dangerous because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.”
Experts say it’s important to cover your head because that’s where most of the heat leaves your body. To stay warm, they also said to layer up, which makes it easy to zip and open when you need to. But getting sweaty and then going outside in the cold can be very bad.
The last and most important thing they said was, “Kids, especially babies, lose a lot of heat through their heads. That’s why you should put a hat on them when you’re outside.” People over 65 are more likely to get sick because it gets harder to keep our core body temperature steady as we age.
