Left, already snow- covered, local officials warn area roads could become even slicker as more snow is on the way. (City-Times photo)

From Portage Co. Emergency Management, Special to the City-Times

Wisconsin residents need to be ready for three major winter weather events impacting the state over the next week. The National Weather service is predicting wind, snow, and cold which will create dangerous conditions starting Friday continuing through Wednesday.

More snow is expected in Wisconsin Saturday and Sunday with 4 to 5 inches possible. Another arctic blast follows with dangerous wind chills beginning Sunday night into Monday and continuing through Wednesday. Meteorologists are predicting lows Monday night into Tuesday morning of-15 to -30 with wind chills at -30 to -50.

If outdoor activity is essential, everyone must be especially careful and mindful of the risks posed by severe cold.

“With low temperatures and even moderate wind, common outdoor activities can quickly become life threatening, even for those appropriately dressed for the outdoors,” said Matt Dykstra, Deputy Emergency Management Director. “Exposed flesh such as the nose and ears can become frostbitten within minutes at minus 30 degrees wind chill.”

Half of all cold- related injuries and deaths occur among healthy, adequately clothed individuals involved in outdoor sports. Especially hazardous are open areas such as lakes and fields, where winds can build rapidly.

Life-threatening hypothermia can develop rapidly, especially if a person is wet or damp. Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia. As hypothermia progresses, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion and drowsiness can occur.

“If shivering begins the individual should immediately move indoors,” said Melanie Baehr, Public Health Nursing Supervisor. “Also, alcohol consumption followed by outdoor activity can be deadly, as the alcohol tricks the body into thinking it is warm when it isn’t.”

Carbon Monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Breathing carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the blood and can cause death within minutes at high levels. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that can be released from poorly functioning or unvented furnace or other gas-powered home appliances.

Since any heating system that burns fuel will produce carbon monoxide, follow these simple safety tips:

• Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.
• Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running, you must have a door open to the outside.
• Generators should be run a safe distance from the home. Never run a generator in the home or garage, or right next to windows or doors.
• Never run a gasoline or propane heater or a grill inside your home for warmth or in an unventilated garage.

Symptoms of overexposure to carbon monoxide are often mistaken for the flu and include headaches, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea or vomiting, and confusion. If you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms, or your carbon monoxide detector sounds an alarm, head outside immediately for fresh air and call 911.

Other cold weather tips include:

• Avoid touching metal surfaces with uncovered hands – flesh will freeze immediately to the surface.
• Layer clothing and use hats and ski masks to cover nose and ears when going outdoors. Hard, pale, cold extremities coupled with numbness are signs of frostbite.
• Plan for the unexpected to happen; in your car, carry a survival kit including blankets, sleeping bags, extra clothing and high-energy foods.
• Be sure your car’s gas tank is at least half-full and your battery charged.