Cold Weather Safety

Cold weather events, including winter storms and atmospheric rivers, can create dangerous conditions for communities by bringing heavy rain, strong winds, frost, and extreme cold or freezing temperatures. Prepare now by making sure you understand the terms used and types of alerts issued by the National Weather Service.

These weather conditions increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite, especially for older adults, infants, young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and people experiencing homelessness, who may have limited access to adequate shelter, heating, and warm clothing.

Reduce cold related illnesses by staying indoors, layering clothing, and seeking emergency warming centers.

Warming Centers

Warming centers are now open throughout San Joaquin County and offer community members a warm, dry, and safe place to stay during the storm. While most warming centers are open during regular business hours, community members are encouraged to contact the locations listed below for more information on holiday hours of operation. For more information about warming centers, visit the links below or call 2-1-1.

• County Warming Centers
• City of Tracy

Safety Tips

Consider the following additional cold weather safety tips:

• Dress in layers including wearing:
• Compression socks help with blood circulation.
• Hat or beanie to prevent heat from escaping your body.
• Water or snow resistant jacket and pants to help you stay dry.
• Water or snow resistant shoes and boots, mittens and gloves, and scarf to keep you warm and dry.
• Limit your time outdoors during extreme cold weather events to prevent exposure to prolonged cold temperatures.

Seek out a warming center or stay in a properly heated building. Do not use generators or burn charcoal indoors as it produces carbon monoxide and can be fatal.

Pet Safety

Cold weather can also be dangerous to small animals that are not used to cold weather. Hypothermia and dehydration are the two most probable life-threatening conditions for animals in cold weather. In general, animals tend to drink less in cold weather risking dehydration, or their typical watering sources can be frozen. Wet conditions and wind chill can add significantly to the cold-stress for animals as well. Particular attention should be paid to very young and old animals, as they may be less able to tolerate temperature extremes and have weaker immune systems.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a serious medical emergency and occurs when the body temperatures drop abnormally low. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. Limit your exposure to extreme cold temperatures and dress in layers. If someone is showing signs of hypothermia, call 9-1-1 immediately.

It occurs when the body is exposed to cold temperatures for an extended time, losing heat faster than it can produce it. This prolonged exposure drains the body’s energy reserves, causing a dangerous drop in body temperature. A low body temperature can impair brain function, affecting clear thinking and coordination. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, as individuals may not recognize the condition or act to prevent it in time.

The signs of hypothermia vary between adults and babies. Adults may experience shivering, exhaustion, confusion, clumsiness, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. In babies, symptoms include bright red, cold skin and unusually low energy levels. Recognizing these signs early is critical for preventing severe health consequences.

Although hypothermia is most common in extremely cold weather, it can also develop in milder conditions (above 40°F) if someone becomes chilled due to rain, sweat, or are in cold water.

To learn more about how to prevent hypothermia, please go to https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/prevention/index.html.

Frostbite

Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing temperatures, which results in the loss of sensation and color in the affected areas, typically the extremities like the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Because of numbness, you may not notice you have frostbite until someone points it out. Changes in the color of the affected area might be difficult to see on brown and Black skin. It can cause permanent damage, and in severe cases, may require amputation of the affected body part.

Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The early stage of frostbite is called frostnip. It causes a cold feeling followed by numbness. As frostbite gets worse, the affected skin may change color and become hard or waxy looking.

Exposed skin is at risk of frostbite in conditions that are freezing cold and windy or wet. Frostbite also can occur on skin covered by gloves or other clothing.

Mild frostbite gets better with rewarming. Seek medical attention for anything more serious than mild frostbite because the condition can cause permanent damage to skin, muscle, bone and other tissues.

To learn more about how to prevent frostbite please go to https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/prevention/index.html.

If you are experiencing frostbite:

• Get out of the cold and remove wet clothing.
• If you suspect hypothermia, wrap up in a warm blanket until help arrives.
• Protect the injured area from further damage.
• Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes if possible.
• Take a pain reliever if needed.
• Drink a warm, nonalcoholic beverage if possible.

Paradoxical Undressing

In severe cases of hypothermia, a dangerous phenomenon known as paradoxical undressing can occur. This is when the body, in its final attempt to stay warm, creates a false sensation of intense heat. As a result, the person may feel overheated and remove their clothing, even in freezing temperatures. This "hot flash" effect leads to confusion and disorientation, causing the individual to act as if they are burning up.

Paradoxical undressing often happens right before the body enters terminal burrowing, a final survival instinct. If you notice these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Know Your Weather Alerts

Knowing the difference between a Frost Advisory, Freeze Warning and Winter Storm Watch.

Winter Storm Watch - A Winter Storm Watch is issued when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter weather within 48 hours. It does not mean that hazardous winter weather will occur but that it is possible.

Frost Advisories - These are issued when widespread frost may occur. Frost advisories are not issued after the first freeze event of the winter until spring bloom begins. Although warm-season plants may die with the first frost, there are no frost warnings because frost damage is generally cosmetic to cold season crops.

Freeze Warnings - These are issued for areas with significant commercial agriculture whenever the first freeze of the winter is expected. The first freeze is defined as "when minimum shelter temperature is forecast to be 32 degrees or less during the locally defined growing season."

Learn more about the types of Winter warnings by going to https://www.weather.gov/lwx/warningsdefined. 

Related Resources

• Listos California Cold Temperatures
• Ready.gov Winter Weather
• Winter Storm Information Sheet
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Natural Disasters and Severe Weather: Before, During and After
• American Red Cross Winter Storm Safety
• National Weather Service