KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Dangerous, sub-zero cold is bearing down on the metro and you need to be ready. The forecasted lows can cause major problems to your body and your car. When it comes to your body it’s pretty simple: Cover up! As for your car, the major concerns should be your battery, coolant and washer levels and the air pressure in your tires.
First and foremost, have your battery tested, even if it’s a little weak you’re at risk of getting stranded. Zero degrees and colder can easily zap half of its power.
Marco Gonzalez with KC Complete Auto Care says keep an eye on coolant levels too, it does more than just keep your car from overheating.
“If you have no coolant or low coolant you’ll actually not have heat inside the vehicle and if there is no heat, windows get frosted up,” he said.
Also check the tires. The air expands and contracts with the temperatures and improper pressure can be dangerous
“Anything that changes traction or driveability of the vehicle can have an effect on the way it maneuvers or handles,” Gonzalez said.
Once you get to where you’re going, you need to make sure you take care of yourself too.
Dr. Mark Scott with the University of Kansas Hospital anticipates plenty of weather related traffic in the emergency room in the coming days.
“The biggest thing you have to worry about is getting skin exposed and just being out in the cold extreme cold,” Dr. Scott said.
Short term exposure can lead to frost nip.
“(It’s) where you just get severe pain, some discoloration to the area, that will get better just by going back inside and letting the heat warm that back up slowly,” Dr. Scott said.
Prolonged exposure can lead to frostbite.
“It will actually freeze the subcutaneous tissue. You’ll actually lose sensation you’ll actually severe discoloration those digits will ultimately end up losing all the blood flow and ultimately you could lose your digits,” Dr. Scott said.
Both frost nip and frostbite will be painful, but Dr. Scott says if the pain doesn’t go away within 15-30 minutes, you should get to a doctor.
