Thursday, December 5, 2013
Hypothermia Prevention
We would like to share a Hypothermia Fact Sheet that has been put together by the Public Health Foundation of Columbia County. We urge everyone to become familiar with the signs of hypothermia - onset can happen very quickly in weather like this.
Hypothermia
Highlights
- When exposed to
cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be
produced.
- Low body
temperature may make you unable to think clearly or move well.
- You may not know
you have hypothermia.
- If your
temperature is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical
attention immediately.
·
When exposed to cold
temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced.
·
Prolonged exposure to
cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is
hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.
·
Body temperature that
is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move
well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not
know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.
·
Hypothermia is most
likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures
(above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in
cold water.
·
Victims of
hypothermia are often (1) elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or
heating; (2) babies sleeping in cold bedrooms; (3) people who remain outdoors
for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.; and (4) people who drink
alcohol or use illicit drugs.
RECOGNIZING HYPOTHERMIA
(Warning Signs)
ADULTS
|
INFANTS
|
·
Shivering, exhaustion
·
Confusion, fumbling hands
·
Memory loss, slurred speech
·
Drowsiness
|
·
Bright red, cold skin
·
Very low energy
|
WHAT TO DO
If you notice any of these signs, take
the person’s temperature. If it is below 95°, the situation is an
emergency—get medical attention immediately.
If medical care is
not available, begin warming the person as follows:
·
Get the victim into
a warm room or shelter.
·
If the victim has
on any wet clothing, remove it.
·
Warm the center of
the body first – chest, neck, head, and groin – using an electric blanket, if
available. Or, use skin-to-skin
contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
·
Warm beverages can
help increase the body temperature, but do not five alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an
unconscious person.
·
After body
temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket,
including the head and neck.
·
Get medical
attention as soon as possible.
|
·
A person with severe
hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be
breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently, and get emergency assistance
immediately.
·
Even if the victim
appears dead, CPR should be provided.
·
CPR should continue
while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical aid
becomes available.
·
In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear
to be dead can be successfully resuscitated.
Additional information related to winter
weather health and safety can be found at:
Friday, September 27, 2013
Here are the locations to go for sandbags should they become necessary in this weekend's difficult weather:
Scappoose Fire District: 52751 Columbia River Hwy Scappoose, Oregon 503.543.5026
Columbia County Public Works: 1054 Oregon St St. Helens, (by Animal Shelter) 503.397.5090
Clatskanie Roads Shop: Intersection of Howard & Hwy 47 Clatskanie 503.728.2622
City of St. Helens 1)1230 Deer Island Rd. St. Helens, Oregon 503.397.3532
2) McCormick Park 475 S 18th St. Helens (behind Center)
Rainier Public Works: 211 W 2nd St. Helens, Oregon 503.410.2177
Vernonia Public Works: 1625 N Washington Ave, Vernonia 503.429.6921
Be sure to bring a shovel and some gloves to fill the bags. Each of the locations should be available 24 hours a day. We hope that no one actually has to use them.
|
Email Weather
Briefing
Courtesy: NOAA/NWS,
Portland, OR
September 27, 2013
|
This is an update to our email briefing we sent yesterday (Sep 26). The most significant item to add to today’s briefing is another strong weather system is expected on Sunday. This system will have the potential to produce the strongest winds of the weekend as well as some dangerous conditions in the surf zone.
Expect winds on the coast of 65 to 80 mph, inland valleys 40 to 50 mph during the day on Sunday. Also, high seas (20 to 25 ft seas) and dangerous conditions in the surf zone are expected Sunday and Monday.
The impacts from the first two storms we discussed yesterday remain relatively unchanged. More details below.
SYNOPSIS: A significant change to a very wet weather pattern is underway. The first storm is moving into the region today (Sep 27) with rain becoming steady later this afternoon and evening.
Another system is expected to move over the area Saturday (Sep 28) into Saturday night which will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the region. Rich sub-tropical moisture from an old typhoon has been entrained into this weather system, so heavy rainfall over the region is expected. Rain will increase during the day on Saturday with flooding on small streams likely as well as urban and street flooding. Winds will become strong on the coast in the late morning into afternoon (50 to 65 mph) and throughout the afternoon in the valleys (30 to 40 mph). There may be a brief break in the rainfall and winds late Saturday night into early Sunday morning before a third storm moves in.
Yet another weather system is expected Sunday that may perist into early Monday. This system is expected to produce the strongest winds along the coast (65 to 80 mph) and inland (40 to 50 mph) Sunday into Sunday evening as well as continued rainfall.
PRIMARY AREAS IMPACTED:
Rainfall amounts are for late Friday through late Sunday. Precipitation graphics are included in the attached word document.
- Coast/Coast Range: Heavy Rain - (3 to 7 inches)
- Valleys/Gorge: Heavy Rain - (2 to 4 inches)
- Foothills/Cascades: Heavy Rain - (5 to 10 inches)
Winds
Saturday
- Coast/Coast Range (mid
morning through evening)
- 60 to 70 mph (headlands)
- 50 to 60 mph (coastal communities)
- Valleys
(afternoon/evening)
- 30 to 40 mph.
Sunday
- Coast/Coast Range
(morning/afternoon):
- 70 to 80 mph (headlands)
- 60 to near 70 mph (coastal communities)
- Valleys
(afternoon/evening)
- 40 to near 50 mph.
Sunday into Monday
- 20 to 25 ft seas
- Dangerous conditions in the surf zone
- Heavy Rain:
- Although rivers and streams are near base flow, there could be sharp rises on smaller creeks and streams and moderate rises on rivers.
- Flooding on small streams and pasture lands.
- Likely some urban street flooding as leaves are just beginning to fall and may clog some storm drains. Rainfall rates may be high at times which may cause local street flooding at times.
- Winds
- Local power outages likely on the coast and in the valley as strong winds could break weakened tree branches and limbs.
- Surf Zone
- Dangerous sneaker waves and rip currents
- High Confidence:
o Heavy rainfall over the
area
o Strong winds along the coast and
inland
o Sea and surf zone
conditions
- Low Confidence:
o Whether flooding will only be
confined to small streams and urban areas
UNCERTAINTIES:
There is some uncertainty whether the
axis of heavy precipitation may stall for a few hours somewhere over the region
during the weekend. There is also some uncertainly whether there
will be a brief break in rainfall late Saturday night.Monitor river conditions and forecasts at water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=pqr, www.nwrfc.noaa.gov and weather.gov/portland.
If you need more detailed information or support, please contact us. Get all your weather information at weather.gov/portland
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