A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect throughout Virginia
until tomorrow morning as a very cold air mass begins to build in the region
later today. Wind chills will drop below zero as early as this
afternoon. Temperatures will remain below normal all the way through the
end of the week.
I put this list together last year in preparation for the
coming polar vortex. We are not quite at those levels currently but I do
feel that with our first extended really cold spell of 2015 and significantly
low wind chill temperatures it is appropriate to share this again.
Take the extra care to provide for your pets, livestock,
equipment and especially yourself during this week’s forecasted a cold snap. I
have attached links to a few helpful facts sheets or links that may provide
some useful information and helpful tips. There are sections for Pets and
Livestock, Equipment and Personal Care. If you need additional assistance
please let me know. Please remember to try to check on your neighbors or
others that you know may have difficulty in dealing with these severe weather
events.
I apologize if you are receiving this in duplicate emails I
have combined several lists to reach as many people as possible.
Animal Emergency Preparedness
When record cold, with ice and snow hit, animal owners
should be aware and ready to protect their pets and livestock and do the proper
things to help them through this unusual cold spell. Following are a
number of concerns and recommendations:
•
Hypothermia and dehydration are the two most probable
life-threatening conditions for animals in cold weather.
•
Many animals, especially indoor/outdoor pets, probably do not have an adequate
winter coat for protection in these very low temperatures.
•
Wet conditions and wind-chill add greatly to the cold-stress for animals (and
people).
•
Pets should be brought inside or into protected covered areas, provided with
plenty of bedding and food and drinking water.
•
Livestock should be provided with
wind-break (natural or man made) and roof shelter, and monitored for signs of
discomfort (extensive shivering, weakness, lethargy, etc.)
•
It is very important that livestock be provided extra hay/forage/feed as up to
double the energy/calories for normal body heat maintenance may are required in
extreme cold.
•
It is critical that animals have access to drinking water. Usual water
sources may freeze solid in low temperatures and dehydration becomes a
life-threatening factor. Many of our animals, especially the young, may
not know how or be unable to break several inches of ice to reach water.
In general, animals tend to drink less in extreme cold, risking
dehydration. Research with horses shows horses drink more water if it is
warmed during winter weather.
•
Adding a warm sloppy bran mash, sloppy moistened beet pulp or soaking pelleted
feed in warm water is a good way to add water to your horses’ diet and provide
some “comfort food” in the cold weather.
•
Special attention should be paid to very young and old animals. They may
be less able to tolerate temperature extremes and have weaker immune
systems. Make sure that young animals are capable of nursing and check
teats for frostbite or skin irritations that may limit suckling.
Fact sheets from places that deal with these severe temps
more often than we do.
Personal Safety and Care
What should I know about personal protective equipment (PPE)
for working in the cold?
Clothing
Protective clothing is needed for work at or below 4°C.
Clothing should be selected to suit the temperature, weather conditions (e.g.,
wind speed, rain), the level and duration of activity, and job design. These
factors are important to consider so that you can regulate the amount of heat
and perspiration you generate while working. If the work pace is too fast or if
the type and amount of clothing are not properly selected, excessive sweating
may occur. The clothing next to body will become wet and the insulation value
of the clothing will decrease dramatically. This increases the risk for cold
injuries.
•
Clothing should be worn in multiple layers which provide better protection than
a single thick garment. The air between layers of clothing provides better
insulation than the clothing itself. Having several layers also gives you the
option to open or remove a layer before you get too warm and start sweating or
to add a layer when you take a break. It also allows you to accommodate
changing temperatures and weather conditions. Successive outer layers should be
larger than the inner layer, otherwise the outermost layer will compress the
inner layers and will decrease the insulation properties of the clothing.
•
The inner layer should provide insulation and be able to "wick"
moisture away from the skin to help keep it dry. Thermal underwear made from
polyesters or polypropylene is suitable for this purpose. "Fishnet"
underwear made from polypropylene wicks perspiration away from the skin and is
significantly thicker than regular underwear. It also keeps the second layer
away from the skin. The open mesh pattern enables the moisture to evaporate and
be captured on the next layer away from the skin. The second layer covers the
"holes" in the fishnet underwear which contributes to the insulation
properties of the clothing.
•
The additional layers of clothing should provide adequate insulation for the
weather conditions under which the work being done. They should also be easy to
open or remove before you get too warm to prevent excessive sweating during
strenuous activity. Outer jackets should have the means for closing off and
opening the waist, neck and wrists to help control how much heat is retained or
given off. Some jackets have netted pockets and vents around the trunk and
under the arm pits (with zippers or Velcro fasteners) for added ventilation
possibilities.
•
For work in wet conditions, the outer layer of clothing should be waterproof. If
the work area cannot be shielded against wind, an easily removable windbreak
garment should be used. Under extremely cold conditions, heated protective
clothing should be made available if the work cannot be done on a warmer day.
•
Almost 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head. A wool knit cap or a
liner under a hard hat can reduce excessive heat loss.
•
Clothing should be kept clean since dirt fills air cells in fibres of clothing
and destroys its insulating ability.
•
Clothing must be dry. Moisture should be kept off clothes by removing snow
prior to entering heated shelters. While the worker is resting in a heated
area, perspiration should be allowed to escape by opening the neck, waist,
sleeves and ankle fasteners or by removing outerwear. If the rest area is warm
enough it is preferable to take off the outer layer(s) so that the perspiration
can evaporate from the clothing.
•
If fine manual dexterity is not required, gloves should be used below 4°C for
light work and below -7°C for moderate work. For work below -17°C, mittens
should be used.
•
Cotton is not recommended. It tends to get damp or wet quickly, and loses its
insulating properties. Wool and synthetic fibres, on the other hand, do retain
heat when wet.
Footwear
Felt-lined, rubber bottomed, leather-topped boots with
removable felt insoles are best suited for heavy work in cold since leather is
porous, allowing the boots to "breathe" and let perspiration
evaporate. Leather boots can be "waterproofed" with some products
that do not block the pores in the leather. However, if work involves standing
in water or slush (e.g., fire fighting, farming), the waterproof boots must be
worn. While these protect the feet from getting wet from cold water in the work
environment, they also prevent the perspiration to escape. The insulating
materials and socks will become wet more quickly than when wearing leather
boots and increase the risk for frostbite.
Foot Comfort and Safety at Work has some general information
how to select footwear. (Also, when trying on boots before purchase, wear the
same type of sock that you would wear at work to ensure a proper fit.)
Socks
You may prefer to wear one pair of thick, bulky socks or two
pairs - one inner sock of silk, nylon, or thin wool and a slightly larger,
thick outer sock. Liner socks made from polypropylene will help keep feet dry
and warmer by wicking sweat away from the skin. However, as the outer sock
becomes damper, its insulation properties decrease. If work conditions permit,
have extra socks available so you can dry your feet and change socks during the
day. If two pairs of socks are worn, the outer sock should be a larger size so
that the inner sock is not compressed.
Always wear the right thickness of socks for your boots. If
they are too thick, the boots will be "tight," and the socks will
lose much of their insulating properties when they are compressed inside the
boot. The foot would also be "squeezed" which would slow the blood
flow to the feet and increase the risk for cold injuries. If the socks are too
thin, the boots will fit loosely and may lead to blisters.
Face and Eye Protection
In extremely cold conditions, where face protection is used,
eye protection must be separated from the nose and mouth to prevent exhaled
moisture from fogging and frosting eye shields or glasses. Select protective
eye wear that is appropriate for the work you are doing, and for protection
against ultraviolet light from the sun, glare from the snow, blowing snow/ice
crystals, and high winds at cold temperatures.
What are some additional prevention tips?
•
To prevent excessive sweating while working, remove clothing in the following
order:
o
mittens or gloves (unless you need protection from snow or ice),
o
headgear and scarf.
•
Then open the jacket at the waist and wrists, and
•
Remove layers of clothing.
As you cool down, follow the reverse order of the above
steps.
Prevent contact of bare skin with cold surfaces (especially
metallic) below -7°C as well as avoiding skin contact when handling evaporative
liquids (gasoline, alcohol, cleaning fluids) below 4°C. Sitting or standing
still for prolonged periods should also be avoided.
Balanced meals and adequate liquid intake are essential to
maintain body heat and prevent dehydration. Eat properly and frequently.
Working in the cold requires more energy than in warm weather because the body
is working to keep the body warm. It requires more effort to work when wearing
bulky clothing and winter boots especially when walking through snow.
Drink fluids often especially when doing strenuous work. For
warming purposes, hot non-alcoholic beverages or soup are suggested.
Caffeinated drinks such as coffee should be limited because it increases urine
production and contributes to dehydration. Caffeine also increases the blood
flow at the skin surface which can increase the loss of body heat.
Alcohol should not be consumed as it causes expansion of
blood vessels in the skin (cutaneous vasodilation) and impairs the body's
ability to regulate temperature (it affects shivering that can increase your
body temperature) . These effects cause the body to lose heat and thus increase
the risk of hypothermia.
In refrigerated rooms, the air speed should not exceed 1
meter per second. If workers are simultaneously exposed to vibration and/or
toxic substances, reduced limits for cold exposure may be necessary.
Farm Machinery:
It is a good idea to make a checklist of the seven or eight
items to evaluate on each piece of machinery. Use the owner’s manual as a
starting point, but a personalized list will be helpful to look back on year
after year.
The following list includes the basic winterizing steps to
get all of your machinery ready for its next use. Try to check off these
projects as soon after harvest as possible to protect equipment before winter
hits.
• Clean dust, dirt and grime off of equipment.
• Conduct a visual inspection to see what might need repair.
Make note of things like burned-out headlights and cracks in the windshield
glass.
• Change the oil and filters.
• Check the cooling system.
• Check the battery.
• Change the air filters.
• Properly lubricate or grease equipment.
• Top off the fuel and add a fuel stabilizer.
Fall is a great time to tune up tractors that will continue
to be used throughout the winter. Lubricants and greases become thicker in
colder temperatures, making it more difficult to operate equipment. A lighter
fluid such as Cenex Superlube TMS® 10W-30 is a good engine oil for cold weather
and winter work.
Farm machinery requires maintenance both on and off the
field to keep it running smoothly year after year. Caring for equipment is one
way to ensure efficient fieldwork and less downtime.
