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Severe cold and prolonged power outages can quickly create dangerous health conditions.
Even in seemingly normal winter temperatures, the cold can tire the body and overwork the heart over time. The risk of indoor hypothermia and frostbite is particularly concerning in areas where infrastructure is not built for winter weather and people are not accustomed to it.
Here are tips from emergency room doctors on how to stay safe.
What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
Doctors diagnose hypothermia based on body temperature and symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Mild hypothermia – when the body temperature is 89.6 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 35 degrees Celsius) – can cause trembling, fatigue, drowsiness, weak pulse and clumsiness.
Moderate hypothermia is a body temperature between 82.4 and 89.6 F (28 and 32 C). symptom These include slurred speech, slowed heart rate, hallucinations, and decreased tremors.
When the temperature drops below 82.4 F (28 C), the body begins to shut down. Symptoms include loss of reflexes, complete muscle stiffness, fluid accumulation in the lungs, coma, and death.
Dr. Ben Weston, an emergency room physician who oversees health policy for the region, said if someone is shivering for an extended period of time, they should take early action to get them to a warm place. Milwaukee County Emergency Management Office.
He said if anyone is confused or showing signs of something more serious, call 911 immediately.
Recognize that the cold can creep up on you
Weston said some of the most dangerous situations occur during prolonged periods of lower temperatures, even 30 to 40 F (minus 1 to 4 C), but not overtly Arctic regions.
In these cases, long-term exposure to cold can tax the body, causing blood pressure to rise and taxing the heart.
Shivering is a normal response to the cold and a workout for the body, Weston said. Doing this for several hours can cause physical exhaustion, and older adults or people with other health problems are at higher risk.
“Additional stress and stress on the body and energy production can really push people to their limits,” Weston said.
people May not realize they need help, or want to move to another room or add more floors.
“You think it’s OK to wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants, but people think it’s a little weird,” he said.
Stay hydrated by drinking water and hot non-alcoholic drinks
Doctors note that it’s difficult to tell if you’re dehydrated in cold weather, and being near a heater may further contribute to dehydration.
However, staying hydrated helps the body stay warm, so they recommend continuing to drink water.
Alcohol impairs body’s ability to cope with cold, says Dr. Abhi Mehrotra University of North Carolina Emergency medicine physician. It can also make you feel warmer than you actually are and cloud your judgement, Weston says.
Layer and keep dry
Dressing in layers in cold weather is key to helping your body retain heat.
The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management recommends wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing with multiple layers that are easy to add or remove. It also recommends covering your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from breathing extremely cold air directly.
Your head, hands and feet radiate the most heat, so be sure to cover those areas, Weston says. While some online posts show people wearing latex gloves under winter gloves for added warmth, Weston says this isn’t ideal because it traps moisture and is not breathable.
Be wary of cyber hackers, such as putting chili peppers in socks. Weston said pepper can actually irritate the skin, and the stinging sensation it causes can mask symptoms of frostbite.
Your body loses heat through evaporation, so one of the most important things is to make sure you stay dry at all times. Dry socks are one of the most important things, Weston said.
Find a warm room and pay attention to heat sources
Weston and Mehrotra recommend finding smaller spaces to contain the heat.
As Weston suggests, this might mean closing all the doors in the house and keeping a heater in one room. You could even pitch a tent indoors or crawl into a sleeping bag to create a more airtight space to absorb body heat, suggests Mehrotra.
Both said one of the most important things is to make sure the heat source is safe. Keep them away from flammable items. Do not use gas stoves, ovens, or bring heat sources that produce carbon monoxide indoors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is one of the most common killers of humans during cold snaps.
Mehrotra said if anyone in your home is experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as nausea and headaches, get outside to get some fresh air.
Check on your neighbors
Mehrotra said young children, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are most at risk when it’s cold.
Most importantly, doctors say a sense of community is key during dangerously cold times. Many people don’t realize they need help until someone asks.
“Check on your neighbors,” Mehrotra said. “You don’t know what people are doing.”
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The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Associated Press is solely responsible for all content.