Jan 5, 2018 3 min read

Two sweatshirts, heavy coat, extra cotton socks, Russian hat, hiking boots, scarf, hand-warmers . . . and you’re still shivering.

It’s winter and Western Pennsylvania is in the deep freeze again – along with most of North America. Single-digit temperatures and paralyzing wind chills have predominated recently. Oh, for the days of shorts and short sleeves, backyard barbecues and ice cream.

They’ll be here soon enough. Before you know it, our air conditioners will be at full crank, and we’ll be bemoaning those stifling nights when the temperature doesn’t dip below 75 degrees and our sleep is fitful. Oh, for the days of three heavy blankets, hot chocolate and warm turkey dinners to nudge us toward a satisfying rest.

In the meantime, though, we have to get through this cold snap. Despite what it has felt like recently, we’re not living in the outer reaches of the Yukon or the snowiest outpost in Siberia. Although the high temperature on Friday is forecast to be all of 10 degrees, followed by an 11-degree high temperature on Saturday, by Sunday it is forecast to be a comparatively balmy 27 degrees. Next week, the daytime highs are expected to be more seasonally appropriate 30s and 40s. This too shall definitely pass.

Before we look toward those more routine winter days, residents need to do things to make sure they, their families and their neighbors stay safe. Extreme cold can be a killer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics found in a 2014 report about 2,000 Americans died each year as a result of the weather, with more than 60 percent being claimed by hypothermia or other causes related to frigid temperatures. Meanwhile, 31 percent died because of heat stroke, sun stroke or other causes stemming from oppressive temperatures.

Certain protocols should be followed when this kind of weather descends on us – and there’s no guarantee we won’t be dealing with it again later in the month or in February. Elderly friends, neighbors and relatives should be checked to make sure they are OK, and their homes are being adequately heated. Everyone should be careful when it comes to using space heaters, candles, stoves or ovens as sources of heat. Anything combustible should be kept a safe distance from fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reported more home fires occur during the winter than any other time of the year, so caution should absolutely be exercised.

Another household tip: Do what you can to keep your pipes from freezing. Running water through a pipe can help prevent it from freezing and rupturing, and the thermostat within a home should be kept at a relatively uniform temperature during the day and night. It’s also advised the doors to cabinets in bathrooms and kitchens be kept open to allow air to circulate around pipes. At the same time, household chemicals and cleaners that could be inside those cabinets should be kept out of the reach of children.

Of course, pets should be remembered and kept out of the cold.

This weather is certainly not pleasant. But it need not be costly or deadly.