Environmental Health & Safety
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Extremely Cold Temperatures Forecasted for Friday and Saturday
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As a follow up to earlier emails regarding the cold temperatures, here are some important safety tips to remember during extreme cold.
Dress Appropriately for the Cold:- Avoid going outside for prolonged periods of time if possible. Wind chills are expected to reach 20 below zero which can result in frostbite and hypothermia.
- When heading outdoors or walking around campus during the winter months, make sure to wear multiple layers, including hats, gloves, or mittens.
- Be sure to wear an outer layer that will keep out the wind. When it is windy, the moving air breaks through insulation and pulls your heat away.
- Wear a scarf or baclava to cover your nose and mouth.
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Warning signs of Frostbite and Hypothermia: - Frostbite – cold and prickling skin, numbness, skin coloration that looks unusual, hard or waxy looing skin.
- Hypothermia – confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness and muscle stiffness.
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On Campus:- Please keep an eye out for doors which may not close or latch completely. These doors can blow open causing freezing temperatures to enter buildings. If you notice a door that does not close or latch, please report the problem to Facilities Operations & Maintenance.
- Ensure that all windows are closed and securely latched. If any windows do not close, please report the problem to Facilities Operations & Maintenance.
At Home:- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- Let the cold-water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes (pipes located in the building exterior walls). Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
- If you are going away during the cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temp of no lower than 60 degrees.
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