Wayland Fire Department Shares Safety Tips Ahead of Expected Extreme Cold Weather

WAYLAND — Fire Chief Neil McPherson and the Wayland Fire Department would like to share safety precautions with residents ahead of the expected extreme cold weather.

The forecast for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4, calls for extreme cold in Wayland, with wind chills below zero by mid-afternoon Friday, and wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees overnight into Saturday morning. The lowest wind chills are expected Friday night. Wind chills that low could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Places to Keep Warm

The Wayland Public Library, 5 Concord Rd. will be open on Friday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents are encouraged to warm up and charge devices during these hours. The Wayland Public Safety Building training room, 41 Cochituate Rd. will be open after the library closes for those in need. 

Safety Tips

The Wayland Fire Department wishes to share the following tips from the CDC to help keep residents safe in cold weather situations and conditions.

• When going outdoors, adults and children should wear:
  • A hat
  • Scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
  • Long sleeves that are snug at the wrist
  • Mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
  • Water-resistant coat and boots
  • Residents are also reminded to layer their clothing strategically:
  • When choosing an inner layer, wear fabrics that will hold more body heat and do not absorb moisture. Wool, silk, or polypropylene will hold more body heat than cotton.
  • Wear a layer of clothing for insulation. An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping air close to your body. Natural fibers, like wool, goose down, or fleece work best.
  • Select your outer layer carefully. The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and snow. It should be tightly woven, and preferably water and wind resistant, to reduce loss of body heat.
• Try to stay dry while outdoors, as wet clothing chills the body quickly.
• Excess sweating will cause your body to lose more heat, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.
• Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while deicing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. Getting these on your skin will cause your body to lose a lot more heat.
• Do not ignore shivering, as it’s an important first sign that your body is losing heat. Constant shivering is a sign that it is time to go inside.

It is unsafe to walk over any iced bodies of water, no matter the depth or outdoor temperature.

Residents should be mindful of the contact information for their utility providers, in the event of an outage:
•    Eversource (electricity): 800-592-2000

Residents in need of help with a weather-related situation like flooding due to a frozen pipe bursting may call the Wayland Public Safety line at 508 358-1710. Remember, in emergencies dial 911.

For additional information from the CDC regarding cold weather safety, click here. 

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