This is from a “Noon Years Eve” celebration Wednesday
We’re all freezing here in Central PA, and everyone’s looking for ways to stay warm.
So yesterday, I set out to learn some fun tips and trivia about the cold – and I was pretty interested in what I discovered. I learned a lot about the cold and how we all react to it.
So I want to share that with you so that you don’t end up freezing your buns off this weekend.
- Pets should be kept indoors when possible and dogs should be kept on a leash at all times, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dogs lose their scent ability in snow and ice and are more likely to become lost in such conditions.
- Each year, snow shoveling leads to approximately 100 deaths and 11,500 injuries, according to a study by the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University College of Medicine. Researchers recommend talking to your physician before shoveling if you are concerned and making sure to use an ergonomically designed snow shovel if shoveling is your only option.
- It’s illegal in Pennsylvania to “warm up” your car by leaving it unattended while the engine runs. According to the Pennsylvania vehicle code, Chapter 37, Section 3701: “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit the vehicle to stand unattended without placing the gear shift lever in a position which under the circumstances impedes the movement of the vehicle, stopping the engine, locking the ignition in vehicles so equipped, removing the key from the ignition and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway and effectively setting the brake.”
- Eating “warm, high-calorie foods such as hot pasta dishes” helps keep you warm during cold periods, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
- The lowest temperature ever recorded in Pennsylvania was minus 42 degrees, recorded Jan. 5, 1904, in Smethport, McKean County, according to the U.S. National Climatic Data Center.
- If you’re a runner or jogger, the Mayo Clinic said it’s fine to continue with your exercise regiment, recommending layering and making sure to keep your arms, fingers, legs and toes warm. But, the clinic warns, “Exercising when it’s cold and raining can make you more vulnerable to the cold. If you get soaked, you may not be able to keep your core body temperature high enough, and layering won’t help if your clothes are wet.”
- The American Red Cross recommends leaving the thermostat untouched during these periods of below- normal temperatures, saying that while the heating bill may increase, it could save you a more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
Suquehanna Reporting 