The Minnesota Winter Hazard Awareness Week topic for Tuesday, November 5 is Outdoor Winter Safety. Polk County Deputy Nate Rasch suggests testing ice thoroughly before walking and driving on it, as well as being mindful of the risks for frostbite and hypothermia. “The first thing I want to talk about is thin ice,” said Rasch. “When is the ice safe? There really is no sure answer. You can’t judge the strength of the ice by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether the ice is covered by snow. Always respect the ice and test it thoroughly before walking or driving on it. The next thing would be sports and activities outside. We light to spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter and there are lots to do recreationally while having fun so just be aware of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is the freezing of the skin and extremities on the body. Examples would be your nose, ears, fingers, things like that. Everyone is susceptible to that, so make sure your skin is covered. We also want to be mindful of hypothermia. In very cold weather, a person’s body can lose heat faster than they can produce it. The result is hypothermia or abnormally low body temperature. It can make a person sleepy, confused and clumsy. It happens gradually and affects your thinking and might not be immediately recognized.”
It is especially important to be mindful of frostbite for children as they often want to play outside all day. Sledding and ice skating by children should also be monitored as these activities can result in a trip to the emergency room. Additionally, while snow shoveling can be a good exercise, it is advisable to know your limits and not take on more than you can handle.
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