Precautions to take for dealing with the cold at 12/7 football game

Dec. 6, 2013

IMPORTANT: Portable heaters will not be allowed into the game.

Ten common sense tips for staying warm at the game

Dress in Layers  - Dress for warmth, not fashion
Wear a warm hat that covers your ears
Wear mittens not gloves – use hand warmers
Wear quality cold weather footwear- use toe warmers
Have as little exposed skin as possible – use a scarf and/or gator
Sit on a blanket or cushion – not on the bare metal
Keep Hydrated - Limit intake of Alcohol and caffeine
Eat a well-balanced meal before the game  – you need calories to stay warm
Move around - stay as active as you can
Look out for your neighbor – if you think someone needs help, they probably do. Contact security and let them evaluate the situation.

If you do get too cold, find a warm place and get warmed up!

If you feel you or someone with you needs assistance go to the West Auxiliary Gym.  The area will be staffed with medical professionals to offer assistance. Some of the places you can go to warm up during the game include:

The Adams Center
- Hall of Champions
- Upper seating area
- West Auxiliary Gym
- East Auxiliary Gym
The University Center

Grizzly Athletics wants everyone attending the game tomorrow to have a safe and enjoyable time. The following information and tips are provided to help make your game day experience a positive one.

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For your safety before you venture out into the extreme cold

Any individual can lose body heat when exposed to cold air. 
Nicotine, alcohol and other drugs may also contribute to how the person adapts to the stresses of cold. 
Early recognition of cold stress is important. 
- Shivering is a means for the body to generate heat and serves as an early warning sign.  Excessive shivering contributes to fatigue and makes performance of motor skills more difficult. 
- Other signs include numbness and pain in fingers and toes or a burning sensation of the ears, nose or exposed flesh.  As cold exposure continues, the core temperature drops.  When the cold reaches the brain, a victim may exhibit sluggishness, poor judgment and may appear disoriented.  Speech becomes slow and slurred, and movements become clumsy.  Poor decision making (such as trying to remove warm cloths).  If the fan wants to lie down and rest, the situation is a medical emergency and the emergency action plan should be activated.

Prevention of Cold Exposure and Cold Stress

Educating all in proper prevention is the key to decreasing the possibility of cold exposure injury or illness. Individuals unaccustomed to cold conditions may place themselves at risk for cold stress may need to take extra precautionary measures (e.g., proper clothing, warm-up routines, nutrition, hydration, sleep).

Clothing

Individuals should be advised to dress in layers and try to stay dry.  Moisture, whether from perspiration or precipitation, significantly increases body heat loss. 
- Layers can be added or removed depending on temperature, activity and wind chill. 
- Begin with a wicking fabric next to the skin; wicking will not only keep the body warm and dry, but also eliminates the moisture retention of cotton. Polypropylene or wool wick moisture away from the skin and retain insulating properties when wet. 
- Add lightweight pile or wool layers for warmth and use a wind-blocking garment to avoid wind chill. 
- Because heat loss from the head and neck may account for as much as 40 percent of total heat loss, the head and ears should be covered. 
- Hand coverings should be worn as needed and in extreme conditions, a scarf or facemask should be worn.  Mittens are warmer than gloves. 
- Feet can be kept dry by wearing moisture-wicking or wool socks that breathe and should be dried between wears.  Be sure that the footwear is not too tight as it may decrease circulation

Energy/Hydration

Maintain energy levels via the use of meals, energy snacks and carbohydrate/electrolyte sports drinks.  Negative energy balance increases the susceptibility to hypothermia. 
Stay hydrated, since dehydration affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature and increases the risk of frostbite.  Fluids are as important in the cold as in the heat. 
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and other drugs that cause water loss, vasodilatation or vasoconstriction of skin vessels.  Warm-hot fluids are recommended.

Fatigue/Exhaustion