WILKES-BARRE — Back in the day on the hills of Plymouth, when it was freezing cold, the word we heard most often was “zimno” — Polish for icily cold.
Well folks, according to local forecasts, prepare yourself for a stretch of zimno-like weather.
This week, our temperature highs are expected to be in the teens — again, “zimno.”
So our Governor and our utility companies are urging all of us to prepare and take all precautions until we zoom into the 20s later this week.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and his Administration warn of “life-threatening” wind chills expected early this week.
The Department of Health is providing a reminder of signs of hypothermia and urges vulnerable Pennsylvanians — including children and older adults — to stay inside when possible.
Pennsylvanians are also urged to monitor weather forecasts.
According to the National Weather Service, January 2018 is the last time Pennsylvania has seen an extended period of bitter cold and dangerous wind chills. Actual air temperatures Monday through Wednesday will range from 15 to 30 degrees below average across the Commonwealth, with some cities expecting records for the coldest high temperatures.
“With extreme temperatures expected across the state, it is important to know the signs of cold-related health concerns and take steps to stay protected, like layering your clothes and covering your head, face and ears even during short trips outdoors,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Do what you can to stay warm and inside. If you do go out, please monitor yourself and others, especially children, older adults and pets, for signs of hypothermia and cold-related injuries.”
Health concerns
The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite. Try to stay indoors as much as possible, but if you go outside:
• Make outdoor trips brief and dress warm in layers.
• Cover your ears, head, mouth and face.
• Never ignore shivering — it’s your body’s way of saying you’re losing heat and it’s time to return indoors.
Also, know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite:
• Hypothermia causes shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness in adults and bright red, cold skin and very low energy in babies.
• Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, and symptoms include a white or grayish-yellow area of skin, numbness or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.
Seek medical attention if it is suspected that you or your loved ones have hypothermia or frostbite. Infants and older Pennsylvanians are at greater risk of serious cold-related health issues and should be checked frequently to ensure they are warm enough during cold weather. Provide warm clothing for infants and make sure that those younger than one year old never sleep in a cold room, because they lose body heat more easily than adults and are unable to make enough body heat by shivering.
Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. If you are over 65 years of age, check the temperature in your home regularly during extremely cold weather.
UGI urges customers to be prepared and safe
UGI offered tips for staying safe and prepared:
• Keep warm indoors by dressing in layers and using blankets.
• Clear snow and ice from meters and vents by hand or with a broom.
• Allow faucets to drip slightly to prevent freezing, and open cabinet doors to warm exposed pipes.
• Charge your devices, check your emergency supplies, and have flashlights and batteries on hand in case of a power outage.
• Never use a gas-powered range or oven to heat a home.
• If using portable heaters, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions including plugging the heater directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip. Also, keep portable heaters away from flammable items.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home and regularly replace the batteries.
Listen to all of this until this “zimno” period passes.