Winter Weather Emergencies

Severe winter weather can lead to health and safety challenges. You may have to cope with

* Cold related health problems, including frostbite and hypothermia
* Household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces
* Unsafe driving conditions from icy roads
* Power failures
* Floods after snow and ice melt

Although there are no guarantees of safety during winter weather emergencies, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening tests take place before your newborn leaves the hospital. Babies are tested to identify serious or life-threatening conditions before symptoms begin. Such diseases are usually rare. However, they can affect a baby's normal physical and mental development.

Most tests use a few drops of blood from pricking the baby's heel. A hearing test involves placing a tiny earphone in the baby's ear and measuring his or her response to sound.

If a screening test suggests a problem, your baby's doctor will follow up with further testing. If those tests confirm a problem, the doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment. Following your doctor's treatment plan can save your baby from lifelong health and developmental problems.

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder of the nervous system. It mainly affects how nerve cells form and grow. It causes tumors to grow on nerves. You can get neurofibromatosis from your parents, or it can happen because of a mutation (change) in your genes. Once you have it, you can pass it along to your children.

There are three types of neurofibromatosis:

* Type 1 (NF1) causes skin changes and deformed bones and usually starts at birth.
* Type 2 (NF2) causes hearing loss, ringing in the ears and poor balance. It often starts in the teen years.
* Schwannomatosis causes intense pain. It is the rarest type.

There is no cure. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms. Depending on the type of disease and how bad it is, treatment may include surgery to remove tumors, radiation therapy and medicines.