Exposure to the winter cold can cause life-threatening health conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when your core temperature drops below the level required for normal metabolism and bodily functions, which causes your vital organs to shut down. Frostbite occurs when exposure to cold causes constriction of the blood vessels in the extremities leading to severe tissue injury by freezing. You can avoid serious health problems such as these by keeping warm and dry using the following tips from the New York City Office of Emergency Management.

• Wear something to cover your head, because even though it is a myth that people lose a majority of their body heat through the head, it is the largest body part that we commonly keep uncovered in cool weather. 
• Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth. They also allow you to add or subtract a layer as needed.
• Keep your fingertips, ears, and nose covered if you go outside, especially if there is a wind chill. These body parts are commonly affected by frostbite.
• Keep your feet dry. Wet feet can lead to hypothermia or frostbite of the toes. Wear insulating socks and shoes that are water repellant.
• Wear waterproof clothing to keep yourself dry. If one of your layers gets wet, take it off. Because heat travels faster through water than air, wet clothing does nothing to keep you warm, In fact, it’s worse than wearing nothing at all.
• Recognize symptoms of cold weather illnesses such as frostbite and hypothermia:
  • Hypothermia signs and symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, slow breathing rate, cold pale skin, confusion, fatigue, lethargy, and the "-umbles”: stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles
  • Frostbite symptoms include gray, white, or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, and waxy feeling skin.
• If you or someone you know is showing symptoms frostbite or hypothermia, get them out of the cold and seek medical help immediately. Keep in mind that people suffering from hypothermia may not be aware of what is happening to them.
• If medical help is not immediately available you can help warm the person up, staring with the core of the body (torso and head). Attempting to warm the extremities first may actually cause cold blood in those sites to return to the heart, further cooling the core. To warm the person, use a blanket, or if necessary, your own body heat by making skin-to-skin contact.
• Do not apply direct heat such as hot water, or a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm someone with hypothermia or frostbite, although warm compresses are fine to use.
• Don't massage or rub the person. People with hypothermia should be handled gently because they are at risk of heart attack. Rubbing areas affected by frostbite can worsen tissue damage.
• Do not give a person suffering frostbite or hypothermia alcohol or caffeine, both of which can worsen the condition. Instead, give the person a cup of warm water or broth.

If you have questions about staying safe in winter weather, ask the expertsa at Healia Health Communities.  

_{Source: City of New York Office of Emergency Management, Winter Safety Tips, 2008 http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/}

_{Photo: Ed Yourdon, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Every winter, around 30,000 people are treated for injuries that happened while shoveling snow or removing ice manually. The types of injuries sustained include sprains and strains, particularly in the back and shoulders, as well as lacerations and finger amputations.

Even worse, every time there is more than a dusting of snow and the temperature drops below freezing, the death rate from heart attacks goes up, as much as three times among men 35 to 49 years old. One of the main causes of this increase is snow shoveling.

Clearly, taking proper safety measures while shoveling snow is important. The following tips can help keep you safe from the first snow of the season to the final shoveling of the year.

For your heart:

• If you are in a high risk group for heart attack, you may want to talk to your doctor before you take on the task of shoveling snow. Those at the highest risk for a heart attack during physical exertion include anyone who has previously had a heart attack or who has heart disease, people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, and people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
• Avoid consuming caffeine (coffee, cola) or nicotine before beginning. These stimulants may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict, placing extra stress on the heart.
• Drink plenty of water while you are working. Dehydration occurs frequently while working in the cold because people tend to sweat a lot while wearing warm winter clothes. The air can also be very dry, even when there is snow on the ground.
• Dress in layers so you can remove layers as needed if you get hot.
• Start slowly and pace yourself, taking breaks when needed. When it is cold, people often try to hurry to get the job done, but that only increases the risk of injury or heart attack.
• If you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or tingling in your arms, neck, or jaw, it may be a sign of a heart attack: stop working and call 911 immediately.

To avoid injury:

• Warm up your muscles for 10 minutes before shoveling by stretching out or walking in place. Warm muscles take longer to tire and are also less likely to be injured.
• Use a shovel that is appropriate for your height and strength. While a larger blade allows you to move more show at once, it also puts more strain on your body and makes your heart work harder.
• Try to push the snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, protect yourself from back injuries by lifting correctly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Lift with your legs and tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Do not bend at the waist. Do not hold a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched as this puts too much weight on your spine.
• Avoid twisting movements. Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side, as this requires a twisting motion that stresses your back. If you need to move the snow to one side, reposition your feet to face the direction the snow will be going.
• Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart for balance and keep the shovel close to your body. If it is icy, be especially careful when shifting your weight around quickly, such as when tossing snow from your shovel into a pile
• Listen to your body. Stop if you feel pain.

For more information on heart attack, see the Healia Health Guide for Heart Disease.

_{Sources: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007 http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00060; North Dakota State University, 1999 http://www.ext.nodak.edu/snow.htm}

_{Photo: bcmom, Flickr, Creative Commons}

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week finds that car and other transportation-related accidents are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. About 8,000 child and teen deaths each year in the U.S. involve a motor vehicle occupant, pedestrian, or cyclist, with the highest fatality rates being among occupants of motor vehicles.

To prepare the report, the CDC examined data collected between 2000 and 2006 on emergency room visits and fatalities in children and teens from birth to age nineteen. According to the report, an estimated 9.2 million children visit emergency departments each year for unintentional injuries. Falls caused the most non-fatal injuries (about 2.8 million each year) and were associated with over half of the nonfatal injuries involving children less than one year. Drowning and poisoning were also leading causes of non-fatal injuries among children less than four years old

The report also notes that between 2000 and 2005, unintentional injuries resulted in 73,052 deaths among children and teens, with transportation-related deaths leading the way. Such deaths were highest among children 15 to 19 years of age. Overall, males were almost twice as likely to die from unintentional injuries as females.

The release of the CDC’s report coincided with the World Health Organization′s (WHO) and the United Nations Children′s Fund′s (UNICEF) launch of the 2008 World Report on Child Injury Prevention. The global report found that car crashes, drowning, and other accidents kill 830,000 children worldwide each year. Road crashes are the leading cause of accidental death worldwide, killing 260,000 children each year and injuring 10 million, with drowning, burns, falls, and accidental poisoning rounding out the top five.

Around 95 percent of the worldwide accidental deaths occurred in the developing world, mostly in Africa, and in richer nations deaths from accidents disproportionately affect the poor.

For information about the preventing child injuries and death, see the CDC’s “Protect the Ones You Love” initiative at www.cdc.gov/safechild. The Healia Health Community on Child Health is a great place to discuss the measures you take to keep your kids safe and get ideas from other parents.

_{Sources: UPI, CDC}

_{Photo: Old Man Lee, Flickr, Creative Commons}

After accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub this weekend, NFL New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress turned himself in to New York Police Monday to face charges of criminal possession of a weapon. While Burress is expected to make a full recovery, his tenure with the Giants may be over just ten months removed from catching the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII.

The incident has highlighted several issues surrounding gun safety including frequency of accidental self-inflicted gunshot wounds. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 16,000 people are injured in the U.S. each year from such accidental shootings, which is likely an underestimate because people may not always seek medical treatment. An estimated 800 people die each year from accidental gunshot wounds, many of them self-inflicted.

The incident also highlights the need to practice gun safety if you are carrying a gun or have one in the house for protection. Burress and many other NFL stars say they carry guns in public because their high profile personas make them targets for robberies and assault. However, it is far more dangerous to carry a gun improperly than it is to carry no gun at all.

Burress reportedly had the gun in his waistband, which is a dangerous way to carry a gun because the trigger can easily be pulled accidentally. When carrying a gun, always use a proper holster because it keeps the firearm in place and keeps objects out of the trigger guard. Some other gun safety tips include:

• Guns are equipped with safety mechanisms that can be placed in a “locked” position, preventing the gun from firing. The safety should always be on, up until the point when you have raised the weapon into position to fire.
• Always keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire. Simply having your finger near the trigger makes it more likely that you will pull it accidentally.
• Always follow the laws of your local city and state regarding guns. Many places require concealed weapons permits in addition to gun registration if you want to carry a gun for protection outside the home.

If you have never done so, taking a gun safety class can teach you the basics of safe gun handling as well as how to safely clean and store a gun.

To find out more about gun safety, visit the CDC’s website to view an informative video. If you want to share an experience of yours regarding gun safety, join Healia Health Communities.

_{Photo: robertnelson, Flickr, Creative Commons}

A recent study found that people are driving less as a result of high gas prices and that this may result in a third fewer car-related deaths annually (about 1,000 less deaths each month). The reduction may be most dramatic among teenage drivers.

In 2007, approximately 6,400 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in an emergency room due to firework-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The number of firework-related injuries has remained relatively constant each year despite consumer warnings. Many firework-related injuries result in long-term disabilities.

• During the day, let the kids decorate t-shirts or hats with paint and glow-in-the-dark decals.  Their creations will be ready by the time the sun goes down.
• Create your own noisemakers by using bicycle horns, whistles, bells, cymbals, or pots and pans.
• Glo-sticks, glo-ropes, and glo-jewelry can safely light the night for kids.

This week kicks off a year-long campaign sponsored by Shriners Hospitals for Children designed to help prevent gasoline burn injuries. Children ages 13 and older are in the highest at-risk group for incidents involving gasoline and other flammable substances.

• DO use gasoline only to fuel an engine.
• DO remember that gasoline vapors can be ignited by a spark, flame, or other source of heat that is located many feet away.
• DON’T use gasoline anywhere near a barbecue grill.
• DON’T use gasoline to light a barbecue grill or to start or accelerate a fire.
• DON’T use gasoline as a cleaning fluid or solvent.
  
  Burn Awareness Week Shriners Hospitals for Children children

Recalls of popular toys related to lead paint, entrapment or choking hazards, and other safety issues have been concerns for parents and consumers this year. As the holiday season approaches, consumers should be aware of safety issues when purchasing and receiving toys for children.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 202,300 children were treated in the emergency room for toy-related injuries in 2005. Prevent Blindness America is a national non-profit organization that provides toy safety tips to help protect children. They have designated the month of December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month in an effort to provide safety tips to people buying gifts for children this year. The organization suggests the following tips to help make this holiday season a safe one for children:

• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Monitor toys that your child has received to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and development level.
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles).
• Any toy that is labeled “supervision required” must always be used in the presence of an adult.
• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child.
• Always save the warranties and directions for every toy.
• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.
• Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact.
• Look for the letters "ASTM." This means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) .
• Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking.
• Repair or throw away damaged toys.
• Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones.
• Remain aware of recalled products.

During this festive holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds us to stay safe and keep those around us safe by not allowing drinking or drugged driving. The month of December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month and the NHTSA cautions drivers to not let holiday parties get out of hand, to pour lightly, serve plenty of food, and not be afraid to take the keys from a friend who has had too much to drink.

• An alcohol-related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injures someone every two minutes (NHTSA 2006).
• In 2005, 16,885 people died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, accounting for 39% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States (NHTSA 2006).
• Most drinking and driving episodes go undetected. In 2005, nearly 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics (Department of Justice 2005).
• Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes are the single greatest cause of death for every age group from 6 through 33 years of age (National Commission Against Drunk Driving).
• Nearly 80% of all occupants killed in alcohol related traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts (National Commission Against Drunk Driving).

Over the last few weeks, we have seen ice, rain, and snow storms devastate many areas of the United States; preparation is one of the best ways to combat winter weather problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers free winter weather and safety updates at http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/. This site contains information regarding emergency supply lists, winter storm preparation, indoor and outdoor safety, and loss of power preparation.

This week, winter weather warnings and advisories were posted due to a cold front that stretched from Texas to New Hampshire. According to CNN, roads were treacherous and more than a half-million homes and businesses lost power from the Plains into parts of the Northeast due to ice and freezing rain. To prevent injuries from winter weather, the CDC suggests equipping your car with the following emergency supplies:

• Cell phone; portable charger and extra batteries
• Shovel
• Windshield scraper
• Battery-powered radio (and extra batteries)
• Flashlight (and extra batteries)
• Water
• Snack food
• Extra hats, coats, mittens
• Blankets
• Chains or rope
• Tire chains
• Canned compressed air with sealant (emergency tire repair)
• Road salt and sand
• Booster cables
• Emergency flares
• Bright colored flag; help signs
• First aid kit
• Tool kit
• Road maps
• Compass
• Waterproof matches and a can (to melt snow for water)
• Paper towels