State officials urged Pennsylvanians to monitor weather forecasts and take steps now to ensure their safety before life-threatening cold and subzero wind chills take hold early next week across much of the commonwealth.

“We expect cold weather this time of year in Pennsylvania, but the extreme cold and wind chills that we’re going to see next week mean we all need to make sure that our families and homes are ready for it,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. “PEMA will be working with county partners to make sure they have the resources they need to keep people safe throughout this cold snap.”

According to the National Weather Service, January 2018 is the last time Pennsylvania has seen an extended period of bitter cold and dangerous wind chills. Actual air temperatures Monday through Wednesday will range from 15 to 30 degrees below average across the state with some cities expecting records for the coldest high temperatures.

Health concerns

The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite. Try to stay indoors as much as possible, but if you go outside:

• Make outdoor trips brief and dress warm in layers.

• Cover your ears, head, mouth and face.

• Never ignore shivering — it’s your body’s way of saying you’re losing heat and it’s time to return indoors.

• Know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia causes shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness in adults and bright red, cold skin and very low energy in babies. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, and symptoms include a white or grayish-yellow area of skin, numbness or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

• Seek medical attention if it is suspected that you or your loved ones have hypothermia or frostbite. Infants and older Pennsylvanians are at greater risk of serious cold-related health issues and should be checked frequently to ensure they are warm enough during cold weather. Provide warm clothing for infants and make sure that those under 1 years old never sleep in a cold room, because they lose body heat more easily than adults and are unable to make enough body heat by shivering. Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. If you are over 65 years of age, check the temperature in your home regularly during extremely cold weather.

Alternate heating

The extreme cold can lead some people to use supplemental heating sources in an effort to stay warm or prevent frozen water pipes in their homes. Padfield said you should never try to heat your home using a generator, stove, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, garage or near a window.

Carbon monoxide is created when combustible materials burn incompletely and can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Often called “the silent killer,” it is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that can incapacitate victims before they’re aware they’ve been exposed. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for the flu and include nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation and fatigue. If you suspect you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide, leave the home or building immediately and call 9-1-1 or seek medical attention.

On the road

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be aware that winter travel can bring challenging conditions and to always prepare before heading out.

• Make sure your vehicle is road-ready with a full tank of gas, safe tires, a full reservoir of windshield wiper fluid that is formulated for winter and wiper blades that work well.

• Have food, water, warm clothing or blankets and any specialized items you may need such as medications or baby and pet supplies in your vehicle throughout the winter months.

• Motorists should also keep charging cords and spare battery packs, a first aid kit and tools such as a small shovel and flashlight in their cars as well.

Staying safe

The American Red Cross has steps you should take to stay safe during this dangerously cold weather:

• Check on relatives, neighbors and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.

• Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle or walking in deep snow.

• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.

• Make sure you have enough heating fuel on hand.

• Protect pipes from freezing.

• If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice, or other obstacles.