Post 764 Ambulance Service

Bundle Up! By Tom Balistreri
EMT-B Peters Township, VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service

During the holiday season almost everybody's time is spent concentrating on others, buying gifts, baking cookies, preparing meals and so on. After spending the past few months concentrating on others, now it's time to focus on yourself and your health.

As an EMT at the Peters Township VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service, I have a couple of ideas, things that I practice when it's cold and snowy, that just might help keep you and yours happy and healthy all through the winter season.

Bundle up! Stuff the kids into those giant puffy winter coats, and send them on their way. Kids take their lead from parents and grandparents, so when going outdoors suit up and stay warm, no matter what your age. Be it long trips to the grocery store or even just the short run to clean off an icy car, bundling up is priority number one.

Hats are definitely a must. You lose a great percentage of your body heat through the top of your head, so wearing a hat will be sure to keep that heat were it needs to be inside you!

Always wear gloves or mittens. Your fingers and hands are very susceptible to frost bite. Come to think of it, so is your nose, adding a scarf to the attire might not hurt either.

We have all heard it a million times "be careful when shoveling snow," well good advice always bears repeating. The heavy lifting and repetition of shoveling snow can put great strains on your heart, not to mention what it does to your back, so again be careful when shoveling snow.

"Remember to pace yourself"
Did you know it can be dangerous to sweat too much when you're outside in the cold? When you're bundled up during all the physical labor and activity you will sweat, even if it's 32-degrees outside. Whether you are shoveling snow, sled riding or even building a snow man if you begin to perspire, stop, take a break and drink plenty of fluids. Going indoors and waiting for the perspiration to stop is best. Perspiration is a reaction to the body's core temperature rising and you sweat to cool down. You're outside, it's cold and windy and you are now wet from perspiration and your body is trying to cool down that is definitely not a good combination. When doing activities outside in the cold, be it work or play, remember to pace yourself, that's the best way to keep from perspiring.

Sometimes all the precautions in the world are not enough to keep a cold, flu or illness away, so if you start feeling under the weather be sure to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you start treatment the sooner you'll be back on your feet.

Remember to have fun this winter and stay warm! Tom