Editing Exercise

Practice your editing skills. Use the four levels of editing (revision, substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading) described in Ch 20 “Revising and Editing for Usability” (PDF) as well as the supplemental readings listed below to complete the quality control process on the document below. Then, post your revision to the course Moodle.

6.16 Sample Text for Revision

To download the text for this Revision Challenge, you could go right to the National Weather Service Website at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/?n=wow. We also printed the text below.

Frostbite and Hypothermia

When exposed to cold temperatures, a person’s body tissues begin to freeze. This condition, called frostbite, is divided into three categories based on severity. Symptoms of the first degree (called frostnip) cause a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose.  Continued exposure will lead to the second degree, also called superficial frostbite. When this happens, the outer layer of skin will feel hard and frozen and blistering of the skin is likely. Deep frostbite (third degree) causes skin to become blotchy and blue and the skin and underlying tissues are hard and very cold and the skin will blister. Frostbite is a serious medical condition and attention is necessary; however if you must wait for help, slowly warm affected areas.  Do not rub frostbitten areas…it will cause further tissue damage.  Warm affected areas by tucking hands and feet next to warm skin or by immersion in warm water. If you also note symptoms of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops below 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.  Some common warning signs are uncontrollable shivering, disorientation, incoherent or slurred speech and cold pale skin.  If the condition goes untreated, drowsiness, extreme confusion and slowed breathing will occur. When the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees, shivering may stop, but he or she is suffering from hypothermia and may lose consciousness or even die. Seek medical care immediately!

Cold-related problems can be even worse when the wind blows.  As wind speed increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Wind chill is the term used to describe and quantify the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. It combines the effects of wind and cold temperatures.

Although hypothermia is more commonly recognized as an outdoor hazard, it can occur indoors as well. Elderly or infirm persons are at risk even indoors and should take precautions to keep thermostats above 65 degrees and dress warmly.

Frostbite and hypothermia are serious conditions, so listen to the local forecast and wear appropriate clothing to reduce your risk.  Dress in layers of warm clothing so the air trapped between the layers will act as insulation. To prevent the body from losing heat, wear a hat.  If possible, wear mittens instead of gloves.  Eat well because the body turns food into heat, but don’t drink alcohol (it makes the body lose heat faster).  By following these common sense precautions, you can avoid cold weather hazards.

Readings