A family treks through the snow as school is cancelled early January 2023. Ensuring proper winter clothes are used outside was a winter safety sentiment shared by Chief Borchert, Dr. McEvoy, and Dr. Okojie.
NEW ULM — With a heavy and cold winter projected, local officials and health experts want to make sure people are safe and healthy.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac makes predictions for each region of the United States. New Ulm is covered under the Upper Midwest prediction, which sees above-average snowfall this winter. The heaviest periods will be late November, mid-to-late December, mid-January, and early February. On top of this heavy snowfall, the temperatures are predicted to be below normal as well. The coldest months are expected to be January and February, with average temperatures around 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert said there are several dangers inside and outside of the house to watch out for. Inside, carbon monoxide poisoning is something Borchert said the police department sees an increase in. He recommends checking all of your detectors and clearing your vents after heavy snowfall to make sure there is proper ventilation.
“I highly recommend making sure your furnace is in order,” Borchert said. “Sometimes it’s not checked and you find out about it during a storm or when the first cold weather hits. Make sure your house is winterized. If you’ve got your water shut off from the outside faucets, make sure it’s drained properly so you don’t have a water leak.”
Outside, physical injuries due to over-exertion are a common occurrence. These can be broken and bruised bones from falls, or heart problems due to someone working more than they should. Borchert said several businesses can provide this service, lowering these risks and making you safer.
A prime example of what can happen during dangerous road conditions, as a Ford Fusion collided with a semi-tractor in late January of this year. New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert said it takes time for people to get re-acclimated to winter driving and safety.
Driving is a major safety issue during the winter months. Borchert said several scenarios present danger every winter. During the first few snowfalls of the year, people are often not acclimated to driving in more slippery conditions and crashes happen as a result. Borchert said law enforcement has noticed a troubling trend in shopping habits people should avoid at all costs.
“When there’s a snow emergency snowstorm coming up, a lot of times individuals will do their shopping during the storm,” he said. “You’ve got the snow and icy conditions, and they’re going to get groceries and supplies from various stores. They’re outside driving in the middle of the storm. This causes a lot of unnecessary collisions around town. It’s not safe. [Make sure] your refrigerator’s full with groceries and have everything prepared done before the storm.”
Another major issue is people parking downtown during a snow emergency. Borchert said the city does everything it can to contact car owners before action needs to be taken. If it is not moved, the car will be towed and a citation will be issued to the owner. Borchert recommends signing up for alerts through Nixle at https://local.nixle.com/new-ulm-mn/. Alerts will be sent to your phone whenever a snow emergency is called. Citizens can also use the New Ulm Police Facebook page or KNUJ.
Dr. Maggie McEvoy is a Family Medicine Practitioner at the New Ulm Allina Clinic, treating people of all ages. She echoed Borchert’s concerns on strain from shoveling snow, adding frostbite and hypothermia to major issues people contract during the winter season. Making sure to bundle up as often as possible is key to avoiding freezing.
McEvoy said respiratory illnesses are common around this time due to people being inside and in closed quarters often. For those looking to stay safe and healthy, she had plenty of tips to prepare for potential ailments and injuries.
Amid wind-driven, falling snow, a pedestrian waits for traffic to clear before crossing Broadway at 1st Street N. Late in late November 2022. New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert said many people go out during snow storms when they should stay safe at home.
“Wear your mask and wash your hands,” McEvoy said. “Get a good pair of boots for traction. If you get wet get into dry clothes immediately. Try to keep your household humidity at about 40% using a humidifier. If you get a bloody nose, press and hold it for 15 minutes until we know the bleeding has stopped.”
Mental health can be negatively affected by the winter season. What McEvoy calls “winter time blues” often come due to lack of sunlight and personal problems including stress and anxiety. Making sure all parts of you are healthy is paramount, and McEvoy said reaching out is a step in the right direction.
“Some moods are kind of sad with the Hallmark holidays happening,” she said. “Not everybody’s life is a Hallmark greeting card. Pay attention to your mood and those of your friends and family. Check if people are changing, irritable, or not acting like themselves. Go ahead and ask or talk to a trusted friend. It’s okay to ask for help.”
As any parent will tell you, winter is often a harsh season for kids. Pediatrician Dr. Obehi Okojie echoed McEvoy’s warning about respiratory illnesses. She said in toddlers younger than 2 years old Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the biggest concern. The virus sticks to itself and causes mucus to stick to itself, which is more dangerous in infants as their lung tubes are small.
For viruses such as these, Okojie said it can be difficult to prevent them since they transmit from person to person. For most viruses, she recommends making sure kids are up-to-date on their vaccines. For RSV, vaccines are only given to premature infants. Okojie recommends a different solution in this case.
Charles Schaefer hits a big snow ramp at South German Park in December of 2022. Pediatrician Dr. Obehi Okojie said parents should look to keep their kids safe, but in the end they’re kids and should be allowed to have fun outside.
“What I recommend is getting a nasal aspirator,” she said. “You put a couple of drops of nasal saline in each nostril, let it sit for 60 seconds, then go behind it and suction the mucus out. It works way better than the bulb suction because you get a lot more out and it might save you trips to the doctor or even the hospital.”
Okojie said this time of year is particularly difficult. Most of the illnesses common in winter are viruses, which can’t be treated with a pill or liquid medicine. Many times they need to run their course, causing stress for parents looking for a solution.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t meds for viruses,” Okojie said. Parents want something to take it away. A lot of parents specifically want antibiotics but we can’t give antibiotics because a virus is not a bacterial infection. That’s sometimes hard for parents. It’s hard for us too as doctors to relay this information because usually, the parent is disappointed with us.”
For outside risks, Okojie said making sure kids are bundled up while playing is essential for their safety. She said it can be underestimated how fast cold can affect kids, so using extra caution is warranted. Besides this, Okojie said there is not much else parents need to do.
“Kids are tough,” she said. “Because kids are gonna be kids, and they’re gonna run around. There’s not a lot you can do to prepare or prevent them as long as you have them bundled up.”