PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
900 AM EST FRI NOV 6 2009

...THIS IS WINTER HAZARDS AWARENESS WEEK IN MICHIGAN...

WINTER HAZARDS AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 7
IN MICHIGAN.  THE MICHIGAN COMMITTEE FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS
URGES ALL MICHIGAN RESIDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW COLD AND
SNOWY WEATHER AFFECT THEIR HEALTH.  WHETHER AT HOME...SCHOOL...OR
WORK...INDOORS OR OUTDOORS...WE ALL SEE AND FEEL THE HARSH CHANGES
IN WEATHER THAT NATURE INFLICTS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

THE WIND CHILL INDEX IS ONE TOOL THAT CAN HELP WITH DECISION MAKING
DURING THE WINTER SEASON.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WIND CHILL
INDEX DRAWS ON THE LATEST RESEARCH IN METEOROLOGY AND HUMAN
BIOMECHANICS.

FOR EXAMPLE...AT AN ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEGREES...THE EFFECT
OF A 15 MPH WIND WOULD BE TO MAKE EXPOSED SKIN REACT AS IF THE
TEMPERATURE WAS ZERO.  THE MORE RAPID LOSS OF HEAT PUTS A PERSON
IN DANGER OF HYPOTHERMIA OR FROSTBITE WITHIN A SHORTER PERIOD OF
TIME THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED WITHOUT WIND.

TO AVOID THE EXCESSIVE HEAT LOSS THAT COMES WITH WIND DRIVEN COLD
AIR...BE CAREFUL TO COVER YOUR HEAD...FACE...AND EXTREMITIES.  THE
FINGERS...TOES...EAR LOBES AND TIP OF THE NOSE ARE ESPECIALLY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO FROSTBITE.  ONE SUFFERING FROM FROSTBITE WOULD
EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF FEELING IN THOSE EXTREMITIES...WHICH WOULD TAKE
ON A WHITE OR PALE APPEARANCE.

IF SYMPTOMS OF FROSTBITE ARE DETECTED...GET MEDICAL HELP
IMMEDIATELY.  IF YOU MUST WAIT FOR HELP...SLOWLY REWARM THE
AFFECTED AREAS.  HOWEVER...IF THE PERSON IS SHOWING SIGNS OF
HYPOTHERMIA...WARM THE BODY CORE BEFORE THE EXTREMITIES.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...OR YOUR FAVORITE
RADIO...TV...OR CABLE TV STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND FORECASTS BEFORE VENTURING OUTDOORS IN THE WINTER.
$$

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