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COLD WEATHER COMING...STAY SAFE
Monday, January 12th, 2009 -- 11:30 am
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
Wisconsin is preparing for a deep freeze.
Temperatures in the double-digits below zero, with even more severe windchills, are forecast for the rest of the week.
The dangers of cold weather shouldn’t be underestimated, experts say.
Everyone knows cold weather can quickly cause frostbite on exposed skin, but fewer may know it can affect your heart.
"Medical experts say cold weather puts an added strain on the heart," Clark County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Lord-Kouraichi , "If you're out their shoveling, or trying to push your car out if it's stuck, remember, exertion can be a real danger."
Some might turn to space heaters for added warmth during cold snaps; they can be very dangerous, as well.
"You have to be very careful, the danger goes up significantly," she says.
Depending on the type of heater, carbon monoxide could also be a threat.
And, travelers are especially susceptible to cold-related problems.
"If you become stranded, your car stops working or goes in the ditch, the car doesn't stay warm for very long," Lord-Kouraichi says, "It's important to have blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, a shovel, booster cables and high-calorie, non-perishable food."
National Weather Service 'Weather Story'
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