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South Bend

Medical professionals warn that frigid weather brings dangers

by Mark Schirripa (mschirripa@wsbt.com)

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The icy conditions on local roads led to several accidents on Saturday. But the ice is just one of many concerns during this cold snap. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 20, 2008 at 10:48 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 21, 2008 at 12:05 PM EST

ST. JOSEPH CO. — The cold weather, like that forecast for the weekend before Christmas, is not just uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. The frigid air and slick roads can be a hazardous and — sometimes deadly — combination. In the midst of one of the busiest shopping (and traffic) days of the year, we got a bit of a preview of what's to come for the rest of the weekend.

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The frigid air and slick roads can be a hazardous and — sometimes deadly — combination.

In the midst of one of the busiest shopping (and traffic) days of the year, we got a bit of a preview of what's to come for the rest of the weekend.

The enemy is ice.

Some drivers see a patch of dry road and are fooled into thinking that they can give it the gas. The police say that's a mistake.

"The biggest problem we have is that people get a little dry spot, they get back up to full speed, they hit this ice and they go in the ditch," said Sgt. Jim Rutkowski of the St. Joseph County Police.

As he spoke, Sgt. Rutkowski was supervising a rollover accident (pictured above) Saturday on Douglas Road, near Capital Avenue. A Granger woman had flipped her sport utility vehicle into a ditch. It landed on its side.

The woman, Jennifer Reihl, walked away from the rollover unhurt. She said she was not scared...at least not when it happened.

"Not at the time but the more I think about it, kind of," she said." I think I was just in shock when it happened."

Another winter hazard are mountains of plowed snow that are pushed into corners of store parking lots. Kids have been known to climb these snow mountains and slide off for fun.

But there's a problem. They can slide down the mountain and into the busy traffic. One such hill measures nearly 20 feet tall. It sits on the south side of McKinley Highway, near Grape Road.

Teenagers have been seen just running down the icy hills. Sometimes drivers are unable to see them.

Ice can keep the hospital emergency rooms busy. A common problem is elderly people venturing out for their newspapers when their driveway and the road are still slippery.

Health care workers caution people, particularly the elderly, against risking injury on icy mornings.

"Last year I had a fellow die in getting his paper out of his mailbox. And he had an inner cerebral hemorrhage because he hit his head because he had to get his paper, " said emergency room physician Dr. Tom Sweeney.

"You don't have to get you paper first thing in the morning. Let things settle down a little bit."

Hypothermia is a condition when the body loses more heat than it can produce. It can be fatal.

Frost bite is when the tissue freezes. That can lead to amputation.

Dr. Sweeney says if you feel cold and start to shiver, that's an early sign of hypothermia. If it happens to you, go indoors, he advises.

If your extremities get numb, that could be the early stage of frost bite. You should head indoors if you experience those symptoms.

Emergency personnel warn that another enemy is alcohol when it's combined with the cold weather. It prevents your body from giving you the warning signs.

More information on these topics is available at mayoclinic.com/health/hypothermia.

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