Cold weather injury prevention: It's more than thinking warm thoughts

Temperatures have dropped again in the Chicagoland area, posing safety threats to children going to and from school, construction or agricultural workers, and people commuting to the city by train or on foot.  Prolonged exposure to the cold comes with serious health hazards, such as frostbite or hypothermia.  At ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons, we want to warn you about these dangers and how you can stay safe as the thermometer reading dips lower.

When you stay outside for long periods of time in the freezing cold, your blood vessels constrict in an effort to keep your body warm.  Your blood flow to extremities is restricted, which can cause injuries, like these:

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Chillblain

: A painful injury in which skin becomes tender, red, or swollen

-         

Trench foot

: A serious injury in which extremeities become numb with swelling, tingling, or itching; and it may lead to a loss of skin or amputation.

-         

Frostbite

: Another serious injury characterized by deep layers of skin freeze which causes sharp or prickly sensations and skin discolorations.  There is amputation potential if you get frostbite.

-         

Hypothermia:

A life threatening injury that happens when your body core temperature drops below 95 degrees, which causes irregular pulse, unconsciousness and potentially death.  Those at greatest risk include workers who aren’t acclimated to the cold or who aren’t physically fit, people with chronic illnesses that affect the heart, and fatigued workers.

To ward off cold-related injuries, make sure you wear warm clothing, drink and eat warm, high-calorie foods, keep your clothes and extremities dry and use extra moisturizing lotions and lip balm.  If you are working outside, you should also take plenty of breaks in warm areas, use warming devices, work with your back to the wind and have a buddy with you to recognize danger signs.

We want to help keep you, your loved ones and your home or business safe in the cold temperatures!  If you or someone you know displays signs of a cold-related injury, get emergency help right away.  And, for all your other

cold-weather related restoration needs

, call the experts at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons at 773-376-1110.

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a women-owned and family run company serving Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore. The business provides disaster restoration services for

damages caused by water

, fire, flooding, mold remediation, and a wide range of interior specialty cleaning (hoarder/clutter, post construction, carpet & upholstery) to residential and commercial customers residing in Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest and the North Shore. For more information, visit

servicemasterbysimons.com

.