![]() Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. In addition to dressing in layers with a tightly woven and water-repellent outer garment, protect your extremities by wearing a hat (most body heat is lost through the top of the head), mittens (better than gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots.Be aware of extreme weather conditions by continuously monitoring media reports.Video by Bill Politis Other tips for cold weather safety: New to New England winters? In this video, veteran outdoorsman Paul “Hutch” Hutchinson (GRS’15), a Questrom senior lecturer in management and organizations, offers tips on how to dress for winter so you can stay warm while still enjoying the outdoors. Space heaters are prohibited for fire safety reasons. If you live in an apartment-style residence and your apartment is chilly, do not under any circumstances turn on the oven and open the door to try to stay warm. If you see open windows and doors during extreme temperatures, report them to the Facilities Operations Service Center at 61. Prevent this by making sure that all of your spaces are buttoned up when you leave the room or building. Wind can drive cold air several feet into a space, quickly freezing water lines, which can rupture and result in flooding. ![]() “When you add high winds to the mix, disaster can result,” according to the FMO office. “We have had doors that do not close all the way because of snow and ice, windows in offices that are left open, and dorm room windows that are opened to let in a breath of fresh air and never closed.” Everyone is urged to close windows and keep them closed during the extreme cold. “Our buildings all have heating/cooling, fire sprinkler, and lab cooling systems that can easily freeze up when subjected to subfreezing temperatures,” the office says. Severe cold can take a toll on buildings as well as people, according to the University’s Facilities Management & Operations. If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Signs of hypothermia (a dangerously low body temperature) include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. Anyone with these symptoms should call Student Health Services at 61. The symptoms of frostbite include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, and the tip of the nose. ![]() In extreme cold, frostbite can happen in less than a minute, and wind makes the risk that much greater. Cover all exposed skin and watch for frostbite (freezing of the skin and underlying tissues). Be sure that your outer layer is tightly woven and windproof. Most important is dressing correctly for the severe cold: wear several layers of warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. BU staff and students-especially those unaccustomed to a cold climate-are urged to review the cold weather precautions listed on the city of Boston safety webpage.
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