Daily printout: Feb. 10

The Postal Service wants employees to take precautions to avoid frostbite, hypothermia and other winter health threats.

Here’s what you should know:

• Frostbite occurs when skin and the underlying tissue freeze after being exposed to extreme cold for long periods. The fingers, toes and feet are most affected, but other extremities such as the nose, ears and cheeks can also develop frostbite.

• At the first sign of frostbite, get out of the cold. Unless necessary, don’t walk on frostbitten feet or toes. Don’t rub the affected area because it will cause more damage.

• Warm the affected area using body heat or by immersing it in warm water. Avoid using a heating pad, heat lamp or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming because direct heat can burn damaged tissue.

• Your body needs hydration when it is cold out. Drink warm beverages to replace lost fluids.

• Hypothermia, which occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced, can be deadly if not caught in time. Signs include memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.

• If you experience symptoms of frostbite or hypothermia, call 911 immediately and notify your supervisor.

The Safety page on the MyHR website has more information and resources.

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A growing number of people are turning away from their electronic devices and seeking deeper human connections through letter writing, according to an Associated Press story published Jan. 26.

Melissa Bobbitt, 42, of Claremont, CA, told the Associated Press, also known as the AP, that she corresponds with a dozen pen pals, and she loves the “grand excitement” that comes from opening her mailbox and finding something other than a bill or advertisement.

Maintaining these handwritten friendships lets her be more intentional with her time.

“Focusing on one person and really reading what they are saying, and sharing what’s on your heart, is almost like a therapy session,” she said.

Stephania Kontopanos is a 21-year-old Chicago student learning how to swim upstream in a world where her friends are consumed by their phones and social media. She told the AP that she purposely reduces her screen time to better prioritize hobbies that bring her contentment.

“The older I get, the more I realize how much time has been wasted on my phone,” she said.

One of her newfound pursuits is writing postcards to friends and family members.

She also told the AP that she is building a sense of community with the employees at her neighborhood Post Office, where she enjoys conversing and sharing stories.

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