Tonawanda News — Area health officials reached out on Tuesday to warn residents to stay warm as the mercury plummets this week.
Erie County Department of Health Commissioner Gale Burstein said everyone — the very old and very young in particular— can face potentially life threatening injury from such severe cold.
“When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge,” Burstein said. “Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyone can be affected.”
To prevent cold-related ailments, she said limiting exposure to the outdoors, wearing multiple layers of clothing (including a wind-resistant outer layer), and staying dry are key components to staying safe.
In addition to the usual concerns about slippery stairs and sidewalks, she also issued cautionary advice for those with heart conditions, as chilly temperatures tax the vital organ.
”Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart,” she said. “If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold.”
Other health warnings related to the cold came from Kenmore Mercy Hospital, where Dr. Michael S. Gough said those with lung conditions must also avoid the extreme cold.
“These cold snaps lead to an increase in wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath that can be frightening and sometimes even dangerous to individuals with respiratory diseases such as COPD or sever asthma,” he said.
He said such individuals, along with the public at large, should avoid prolonged exposure to the cold, as well as several other tips:
• Keep a stock of medications so you don’t have to go out during very cold weather.
• Wear several layers and warmer clothing, even at night.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf.
• Keep your home well ventilated.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
