Missouri S&T plans to resume normal campus operations Friday, Feb. 12, but due to bitter cold and severe wind chills, all students, faculty and staff are advised to take appropriate precautions.
Dress warmly to avoid frostbite and hypothermia
During extremely cold weather, experts advise wearing:
- A hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
- Sleeves that are snug at the wrist
- Mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
- Water-resistant coat and boots
- Several layers of loose-fitting clothing
How to wear layers
- Inner Layer: Wear fabrics that will hold more body heat and don’t absorb moisture. Wool, silk or polypropylene will hold more body heat than cotton.
- Insulation Layer: An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping air close to your body. Natural fibers, like wool or goose down or a classic fleece work best.
- Outer Layer: The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and snow. It should be tightly woven, and preferably be water and wind resistant to reduce loss of body heat.
Avoid frostbite and hypothermia
Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes. Signs include numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin.
Actions — Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage affected areas or use a heating pad.
Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. Signs include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
Action — Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
In either case, it’s important to see a medical provider as soon as possible.
Your University Police Department is always open and officers are always on patrol. Feel free to call or text the S&T University Police Department any time. The main number to the police department is 573-341-4300 (24 hour). You may also text the Missouri S&T Police Department via the Rave Guardian app.
See more winter weather safety tips.