With temperatures expected to drop into the negative digits on Friday and Saturday, Baystate Health and the state Department of Fire Services have issued safety warnings and advice for how to cope with the cold.
Cold weather can result in frostbite, hypothermia and increased risk of heart attacks, according to Baystate Health. When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure will eventually use up the body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. A body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the individual unable to think clearly or move well.
“Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk, and those who work outdoors, but anyone can be affected,” Dr. Brian Sutton, medical director at Baystate Health Urgent Care, explained in a statement.
Sutton noted a body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit requires emergency medical attention. Hypothermia is signaled in adults by confusion, sleepiness, reduced breathing and heart rate, and extreme shivering, while infants may experience bright red, cold skin and very low energy.
“What is especially concerning with hypothermia affecting your brain function is that a person suffering from hypothermia may not realize what is happening to them or realize they need medical assistance,” Sutton said.
While waiting for help to arrive, begin warming immediately by getting the person indoors and removing any wet clothing they may be wearing, Sutton advised. Warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head and groin area — using an electric blanket, if possible. Skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets is also effective. Warm beverages can also help increase body temperature.
Sutton noted symptoms of frostbite include numbness and a white cast to the skin in the affected area, with the most susceptible body parts being fingers, toes, ear lobes and the nose. He suggested warming the frozen part to room temperature by immersing it in warm (not hot) water to avoid burns to the skin. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily. Also avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.
In a similar safety warning issued Thursday, State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey warned residents to avoid fire and carbon monoxide hazards while heating their homes.
“Home heating equipment is the second-leading cause of residential fires and the main source of carbon monoxide at home,” Ostroskey said in a statement. “Working smoke and (carbon monoxide) alarms are your first line of defense against these hazards. With furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters working overtime this weekend, be sure they’re installed on every floor of your home and test them to be sure you and your family are protected.”
When purchasing a space heater, Ostroskey recommended one that’s been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek. Newer space heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch that turns the device off if it tips over.
Solid fuel heating appliances such as fireplaces and wood stoves have accounted for a rising share of home heating fires in recent years, according to the Department of Fire Services. Open the dampener before lighting a fire; use only dry, seasoned wood; don’t use flammable liquids to start the fire; and keep a 3-foot circle of safety around the fireplace or stove free of anything that can burn.
Residents are advised to shovel ashes from the stove or fireplace into a metal bucket with a metal lid and place it outside on the ground away from the building — not in the trash. Most chimney fires occur because of a buildup of creosote, a tarry byproduct of burning wood, so fire officials recommend having your chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned annually.
Those with a furnace, water heater or oil burner with a pilot light should keep a 3-foot circle clear of anything that could catch fire, and should not store gasoline, painting supplies or other flammable solvents in the home as the vapors can be ignited by a pilot light. These systems should be checked annually by a professional, as well.
Ostroskey recommends a home escape plan that includes two ways out of every room, and everyone should be able to open the doors and windows along the way. Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need extra assistance.
Heading into the unusually cold weekend, the Greenfield Police Department shared the following list of warming resources for residents of Franklin County and the North Quabbin region:
■ServiceNet’s shelter, 60-72 Wells St. in Greenfield. Those who need a bed are advised to call the shelter directly at 413-772-6100 and press 2. ServiceNet is managing any requests for hotel stays if the shelter is full.
■Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St. in Greenfield. Open as a warming center on Friday, Feb. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. No pets or food is allowed.
■The North Quabbin Recovery Center in Athol and the Wildflower Alliance in Greenfield will have hand and foot warmers and blankets.
■Salvation Army, 72 Chapman St. in Greenfield. Laundry and shower services are available Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.
Similarly, the Athol Police Department shared the following list of warming centers:
■Athol Senior Center, 82 Freedom St. in Athol. Open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
■North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, 80 Freedom St. in Athol. Open Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
■North Quabbin Community Coalition, 251 Exchange St. in Athol. Open Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
■Valuing Our Children, 217 Walnut St. in Athol. Open Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■Patch Family Center, 109 Lumber St. in Athol. Open Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
■Athol Public Library, 568 Main St. in Athol. Open Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■Athol Area YMCA, 545 Main St. in Athol. Open Friday from midnight to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■Salvation Army, 107 Ridge Ave. in Athol. Open Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Phone charging is available at all sites.