Photo by Janice Checchio

Safety

Subzero Temperatures Are Coming. Use These Tips to Stay Safe and Warm

Advice for protecting yourself and your home as the coldest weather of the winter arrives

After the fifth warmest January on record, February is here to remind you that it’s still winter. Starting Friday morning, temperatures are expected to drop, and keep dropping, down to zero, or below in some areas, for the weekend. The windchill factor could reach 30 below or colder before Sunday returns back to a balmy 40 degrees.

So let’s make sure you’re ready.

BU staff and students—especially those unaccustomed to a cold climate—are urged to review the cold weather precautions listed on the city of Boston safety webpage. Most important is dressing correctly for the severe cold: wear several layers of warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Be sure that your outer layer is tightly woven and windproof. Cover all exposed skin and watch for frostbite (freezing of the skin and underlying tissues). In extreme cold, frostbite can happen in less than a minute, and wind makes the risk that much greater.

The symptoms of frostbite include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, and the tip of the nose. Anyone with these symptoms should call Student Health Services at 617-353-3575. Signs of hypothermia (a dangerously low body temperature) include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Severe cold can take a toll on buildings as well as people, according to the University’s Facilities Management & Operations. “Our buildings all have heating/cooling, fire sprinkler, and lab cooling systems that can easily freeze up when subjected to subfreezing temperatures,” the office says. “We have had doors that do not close all the way because of snow and ice, windows in offices that are left open, and dorm room windows that are opened to let in a breath of fresh air and never closed.” Everyone is urged to close windows and keep them closed during the extreme cold.

“When you add high winds to the mix, disaster can result,” according to the FMO office. Wind can drive cold air several feet into a space, quickly freezing water lines, which can rupture and result in flooding. Prevent this by making sure that all of your spaces are buttoned up when you leave the room or building. If you see open windows and doors during extreme temperatures, report them to the Facilities Operations Service Center at 617-353-2105.

If you live in an apartment-style residence and your apartment is chilly, do not under any circumstances turn on the oven and open the door to try to stay warm. Space heaters are prohibited for fire safety reasons. 

Other tips for cold weather safety:

• Be aware of extreme weather conditions by continuously monitoring media reports.

• In addition to dressing in layers with a tightly woven and water-repellent outer garment, protect your extremities by wearing a hat (most body heat is lost through the top of the head), mittens (better than gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

• Make sure you always have a well-stocked winter home emergency kit that includes flashlights, a portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, nonperishable food, and a manual can opener. Do not use candles.

• When using alternate heating sources, such as a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater, take the necessary safety precautions. Keep a fire extinguisher handy and make sure that everyone knows how to use it properly. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to make sure they are in working order.

• If you lose your heat, seal off unused rooms by stuffing towels in the cracks under the doors. At night, cover windows with extra blankets or sheets.

• Be a good neighbor. Check with elderly relatives and friends who may need assistance to make sure they are safe.

• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow a trickle of warm water to run from a faucet that is far from your water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water moving so that it cannot freeze. Be sure you know how to shut off your water supply should a pipe burst.

• Drink noncaffeinated fluids. Dehydration occurs more quickly in cold, dry weather. Be sure to keep well hydrated, especially if you are exerting yourself.

• Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol can speed the onset and worsen the effects of hypothermia.

• Make sure your car is properly winterized. Keep the gas tank at least half full. Store in your car emergency blankets, extra clothing, a flashlight with spare batteries, nonperishable foods, a windshield scraper, a shovel, sand, a towrope, and jumper cables.

• Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel.

Find additional information about winter preparedness here.