The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

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The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

The WEB

The student newspaper of, by, and for Ames High School.

The WEB

How to stay warm during the winter

With subzero temperatures, gusting winds, and heavy snowfall, the weather is, indeed, frightful. So frightful that even Cliff Song is starting to wear pants. Indeed, dressing warm is imperative to surviving these long, cold, Iowa winters. Not sure how? Here are a few tips. 1. Dress in layers. This is key to staying warm outside and to avoid overheating inside. Wear something comfortable under it all, like a t-shirt or a thermal shirt. Add layers over that: sweaters, jackets, long-sleeve t-shirts – whatever tickles your fancy. Layers of clothes will trap body heat, preventing it from being lost to the cold. Wearing layers instead of one giant coat gives you the benefit of not overheating. When you are inside, remove layers as necessary. 2. Cover your head. A lot of heat is lost through the head, so wear a hat. Wool or cotton works best. It’s important to cover the ears, as they can lose a lot of heat in a short amount of time and are very susceptible to frostbite. 3. Cover your neck. Mrs. Cold always manages to sneak herself past the bundles of clothing you might throw on, the neck being a favorite route. Keep her at bay by wearing a scarf or a turtleneck, or even a neck warmer if that’s your style. 4. Wear thermal pants. Hugging the legs, thermal pants do a great job trapping body heat, providing comfort while doing so. Wearing only one pair of pants, I often find that my legs begin to tingle and even get numb after a while. This ties in with "Dress in layers." Thermal pants keep my legs nice and toasty even on the coldest of days. 5. Protect the extremities. In cold weather, blood flow is centered towards the core, reducing flow to the extremities. Wear gloves and thick socks/a good pair of shoes to trap what little heat is produced. Find a thick pair of gloves or mittens. Protect the feet especially, as they are in contact with the cold pavement, snow, slush, or whatever you may be walking in. Wear slippers in the house, as non-carpeted floors and bare feet. Wear heavy wool socks and a pair of water-resistant shoes. 6. Drink warm beverages. Putting a cup of 150 (degrees) hot chocolate in your stomach will heat your body from the inside out. And it’s delicious. Avoid drinking cold beverages, as they will have the opposite effect. 7. Use common sense. I have spotted a handful of students who apparently think they are man enough to wander about outside wearing nothing but a t-shirt and jeans. As audacious, masculine, graceful, intrepid, and admirable as it is, this is probably not the best way to handle subzero temperatures. Put on a coat, at least. C’mon. Staying warm in the winter is trickier than it may seem, but fear not; if you are reading this now, you should know how to bundle up and stay warm in the face of a blizzard and the resulting 2-hour delays for several days straight.

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