Coping with the Cold

Those who visited Montana last week with Jennifer Pugh and the rest of the Schussmeisters Ski Club are nonchalant about the weather in Buffalo.

"It was 32 degrees below zero there, so coming back to Buffalo was easy," said the senior chemistry and biomedical pharmacology major.

For most who stayed in Buffalo, the recent weather conditions might evoke entirely different sentiments.

With old man winter blowing full force into Western New York this week, many students have been caught off guard by the sudden shift in climate and are consequently ill prepared to cope with its impact.

Dr. Frank Carnevale, director of Student Health Services at UB, said students must take precautions when confronting Mother Nature.

"When it is bitter cold outside like this, dressing in layers is important," Carnevale said. "Covering the extremities is most important. That would include your legs, arms, head and face."

Members of UB's Schussmeisters Ski Club agree with the doctor's advice.

"I wear about two or three layers depending on the conditions," said Schussmeister's member Stefan Fleming, a sophomore dual major in media studies and political science. "Usually I just wear a simple jacket, because I know I'm just going between buildings."

Carnevale is a proponent of accessorizing - hats, mittens or gloves, and scarves should be worn anytime the temperature drops below freezing.

"You should wear a hat because most of the heat is lost through the top of your head. The hat you wear should also cover your ears." Carevale said.

According to Carnevale, mittens offer better protection from the elements than gloves because the fingers work together to heat one another, unlike gloves where the fingers are separated.

Having a good scarf, Carnevale advised, is not only essential to protecting your face, but also your lungs.

"A scarf to put over your neck, nose and mouth to warm the air you breathe into your lungs will prevent that cold air feeling in your chest," Carnevale said.

Prolonged exposure to the cold without sufficient dress can result in frostbite or damage to the underlying skin tissue. According to the National Weather Service, a person can develop frostbite within 15 minutes if exposed to the temperatures like UB has experienced recently.

"If you notice that your skin has changed color you should go indoors," said Carnevale. "Usually it turns red first and then dark. You should rapidly warm the area up."

The artic blast that has clenched the region lately has brought not only health concerns but mechanical troubles too.

Although Buffalo natives are all too familiar with winterizing their cars, Larry Cohen, owner of the Amherst Meineke Car Care Center, was able to offer some tips to reduce automotive anxiety.

"If you put off car maintenance, it comes back to get you at the worst time," Cohen said. "You don't want to be stranded down town at midnight or something."

"Checking the coolant (antifreeze) is important," said Cohen. "You could have some major problems if you don't. Your engine could freeze up, or you could have a no start."

"Tires are very important," Cohen added. "They all season radial tires perform pretty well. Snow tires are good too. If you have a good pair of tires on the fronts, you won't get stuck."

Cohen also warned of not giving your car enough time to warm up in low temperatures. Carelessness can result in a damaged engine and transmission.

Finally, wipers that are frozen to the windshield should be scraped thoroughly to avoid breaking the wiper arm.

"That can be a $50 to $60 job," Cohen cautioned. "Most places will check out your car for free though."

Jennifer Kelly, a senior communications major, said she identifies with Cohen's suggestion.

"My car is always freezing and my wipers are always frozen. The only thing I do is make sure that I have a lot of windshield washer fluid."

Owen Burns, a senior electrical engineering major, had other concerns.

"I can deal with the cold," Burns said. The real problem we have here in Hadley is that every time I try to get my truck out of the parking lot, I'm plowed in."