Jan. 29, 2019

Northwest campus to reopen for normal operations Thursday

Updated: Jan. 30, 2019, 2:38 p.m.

The Northwest Missouri State University campus in Maryville will reopen for normal operations on Thursday, Jan. 31. All classes and activities will resume as scheduled.

Bearcat Commons in the J.W. Jones Student Union is open for dining until 9 p.m. Wednesday. Mooyah and P.O.D. Market in The Station will remain open until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Campus Dining will resume regular hours Thursday.

Monitor conditions

Northwest urges students and employees to monitor weather conditions to maintain safety. Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions. Stay updated on current weather conditions by visiting Northwest’s University Police website, or tune into KXCV-KRNW 90.5 FM or 88.9 FM. 

According to the National Weather Service, Nodaway County is under a wind chill warning until 9 a.m. Thursday with wind chills expected as low as 35 degrees below. The wind chill warning means the combination of cold air and wind will create dangerously low wind chill values. Frostbite can occur quickly and lead to hypothermia or even death if individuals do not take precautions.

As with any emergency at Northwest, the University encourages students and employees to monitor the Northwest homepage, University email accounts, the University calendar and official Northwest social media for announcements regarding campus developments related to the weather.

Take precautions

Winter weather and cold temperatures are nothing to take lightly, and these precautions will help ensure your safety.

• Limit the time you are outdoors in cold, wet or windy weather. Pay attention to weather forecasts and wind chill readings. In very cold, windy weather, exposed skin can develop frostbite in a matter of minutes. Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
• Dress in several layers of loose, warm clothing rather than a single layer. Air trapped between the layers of clothing acts as insulation against the cold. Wear windproof and waterproof outer garments to protect against wind, snow and rain. Choose undergarments that wick moisture away from your skin. Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. 
• Stay dry. Wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.
• Wear a hat that fully covers your ears. Heavy woolen or windproof materials make the best headwear for cold protection.
• Wear mittens rather than gloves for better protection.
• Watch for signs of frostbite. Early signs of frostbite include redness, prickling and numbness.
• Plan to protect yourself. When traveling in cold weather, carry emergency supplies, extra blankets and warm clothing in case you become stranded.
• Plan ahead with your vehicle. Keeping the gas tank at least half filled can help prevent a fuel line freeze. After starting your car, allow it to idle for a minute or two and then drive slowly to heat the oil.
  
  

Avoid frostbite and hypothermia

When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold eventually use up the body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making a person unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

Symptoms include a tingly, painful or itchy sensation; a cold or burning sensation; or numbness. The skin can turn red, white or grayish yellow. In severe cases, skin might blister.

Hypothermia: Normal body temperature averages 98.6 degrees. With hypothermia, core temperature drops below 95 degrees. In severe hypothermia, core body temperature drops to 86 degrees or lower. During exposure to cold temperatures, most heat loss – up to 90 percent – escapes through the skin. Heat loss through the skin happens primarily through radiation and speeds up when skin is exposed to wind or moisture. If cold exposure is due to being immersed in cold water, the movement of waves and water can increase heat loss up to 50 percent.

Frostbite: Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissue just underneath it freezes. It causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects small, exposed areas of your body, like the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

Don’t drink alcohol if you plan to be outdoors in cold weather. Alcoholic beverages cause your body to lose heat faster. Eating well-balanced meals and drinking warm, sweet drinks, such as hot chocolate, will help you stay warmer.