As the temperature plummets and the wind blows, Ball State University students are seen wearing hats, gloves, scarfs and anything else to keep warm.
Here are some ways to help fix problems the colder weather might cause:
Dressing SmartWearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing traps air between the layers, insulating you. Wear a hat because body heat is lost from your head.Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
What it feels likeThe National Weather Service defines wind chill as the temperature it feels like outside based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. Wind Chill Warnings and Advisories are issued by the NWS when conditions are potentially hazardous or life- threatening. Extremely low wind chill temperatures increase a person's susceptibility to frostbite and hypothermia.The only way wind chill affects inanimate objects is by causing the temperature to drop faster. The object's temperature cannot drop below the Fahrenheit reading.
Consuming alcohol before going outside in colder temperatures does not make you warmer. It can actually decrease your body temperature as blood flows to the skin and away from vital organs, leaving you vulnerable to the winter chill.
Effects on the BodyBlood vessels in head expand or contract to compensate for oxygen-level changes, causing a migraine.Muscles, tendons, bones, scar tissue may expand, causing pain.Joints have nerve endings with receptors that can sense pressure changes, causing aches.
95 degrees, temperature when hypothermia begins. Symptoms of hypothermia include memory loss, incoherence, uncontrollable shivering and drowsiness.
If your feet feel cold, cover your head. On the scalp, blood vessels sit close to the skin. Hair provides some or little insulation, which causes the body to lose heat rapidly. At 23 degrees you could lose up to 75 percent of your body's total heat through your head.
Let your laptop slowly warm up. Give it time to warm to room temperature before starting. If you are using your computer outside, give it time to cool down before using.
Pipe ProblemsTips on preventing pipes from freezing from Dan Allen, operations supervisor for Indiana American Water company:Seal up crevices and cracks so outside air can't get into small spaces.Leave water trickling from the faucet (about a pencil-size flow).Turn the faucet in the kitchen sink to cold.For bigger houses and apartments, also leave an upstairs faucet on.Leave kitchen cabinet doors open because it allows heat in the room to get closer to pipes in the wall.
Residence HallsThe pipes are located in the center of the buildings where they are well-insulated and not exposed to the cold air, said George Edwards, associate director of Housing and Residence Life Facilities. The only pipes exposed to outside air are steam pipes used for heating, which cannot freeze, he said.The only place on campus where freezing pipes have been an issue is Scheidler Apartments, Edwards said.
Car CareThe following materials should be kept in your trunk during the harsh winter months: jumper cablesrock salt (to melt ice)ice scrapera can of tire inflator blanketKeep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Use the lowest grade of oil possible that provides the best all-weather protection, fuel efficiency and energy conservation. The owner's manual of your vehicle will inform you about which grade is best suited for your automobile. Another option is synthetic blend motor oil. Synthetic oil allows for an easier start to your car in the winter and helps your engine run better and longer.
FrostbiteFrostbite is most common in the body's extremities, such as toes, fingers, nose, etc. and symptoms are a loss of feeling or pale complexion in the extremities. Slowly attempt to rewarm the affected areas if medical attention is unavailable.
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