For many people, the winter season means the return of holiday celebrations with friends and family or building snowmen out of freshly fallen snow. However, studies show that hospital visits increase approximately 10 percent during the holidays, a trend we’ve also seen at Reading Hospital. This winter, I encourage you to be proactive about your safety and well-being by taking precautionary measures to prevent dangerous situations like carbon monoxide poisoning, driving under the influence, and frostbite.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Each winter, there is an increase in carbon monoxide poisoning cases at Reading Hospital. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is extremely deadly. When inhaled, oxygen becomes blocked and cannot reach vital organs like your brain and heart. Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by carbon monoxide fumes from appliances like generators or gas-range stoves. It is extremely dangerous and often fatal, but it is also preventable.
- Never use a gas oven to heat your home. Using a gas range oven to heat your home is not only a fire hazard, it also exposes you to carbon monoxide.
- Never use a generator inside. The exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can quickly fill your home. Always keep your generator 20 feet away from your home with the exhaust pointed away from windows and doors.
- Never start your vehicle inside a garage. This is a fire hazard that also exposes you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Even with the door open, starting your vehicle in the garage can build up enough fumes to be harmful to your health.
- Use a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home. If carbon monoxide is detected, the alarm will sound and alert you to evacuate immediately. The batteries in your detectors should be replaced every six months.
- Seek medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, disorientation, or loss of consciousness.
Get Home Safely
Reading Hospital has the busiest emergency department in Pennsylvania. This is especially true during the holidays. As a result of an increase in people traveling over the holiday season, studies show that car accidents and alcohol-related deaths increase. If you have a holiday celebration on the calendar, be proactive by coming up with a plan to avoid a potentially life-threatening accident.
- Plan how you'll get home safely. Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home, or use local public transportation or rideshare services.
- Commit to sobriety. To ensure your safety and the safety of others, commit to sobriety if you are the designated driver.
- Never get behind the wheel if you are under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
Prevent Frostbite
During the winter months, Reading Hospital also treats a number of patients with frostbite symptoms. Our skin contains approximately 64 percent water that can freeze if exposed to freezing temperatures for prolonged periods of time. When the water in our skin freezes, it causes a condition called frostbite, which can be dangerous and cause permanent tissue damage. Frostbite has three stages, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of each stage if you plan on spending time outdoors.
- Frostnip is the first stage of frostbite and is characterized by the affected area feeling cold and sore. During this stage, damage to the skin is temporary and symptoms resolve once indoors.
- Superficial frostbite is the second stage and is often associated with the “pins and needles” sensation many patients experience after being outdoors. This sensation is caused by the water in your skin beginning to freeze.
- Severe frostbite is the third and final stage of frostbite, and it is the most dangerous. Severe frostbite occurs when the water in your skin has frozen, causing the affected area to become numb and difficult to move. Frostbitten skin causes cells to die off, which can change the color of your skin and cause permanent tissue damage. Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that you have severe frostbite.
We encourage you to be proactive about your health and wellness this winter by avoiding dangerous situations that have the potential to be life-threatening. Reading Hospital is here for you and all your health needs, including those that are unpredictable. Our community-focused emergency department and Level I Trauma Center are equipped to handle medical emergencies for all ages.