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

Sam Simon
January 18, 2018
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:
-
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
.
Sam Simon
Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.
He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.
Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.
In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.
Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career under the name Sam Zabadneh, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile
Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.
Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:
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