Washington DOH Answers Most Important Questions For Winter Health Conditions

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 12 Jan 2009 - 9:00 PDT

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Cold noses, rosy cheeks and hot chocolate - all sure signs that winter is officially here. From late December to mid March, the average cold weather temperatures range from a high of 55 degrees F to a low of 24 degrees F here in the city; while the freezing point of water is 32 degrees F. Winter temperatures can be dangerous to the body, if provisions are not made to keep the body warm. "The District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) takes cold weather preparation very seriously," said Dr. Pierre Vigilance, DOH Director, who is advising residents to be smart about preventing hypothermia injury in cold weather.

DOH answers the most important questions about hypothermia.

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature is abnormally lower than 95° F and is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40° F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold weather will eventually use up your body's stored energy. Hypothermia is a particular problem for older people who lack proper nutrition, take certain medications, drink alcohol, and who have conditions such as arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and Parkinson's disease.

An abnormally low body temperature that is too low, affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won't be able to do anything about it.

Who is more susceptible to hypothermia?

1. Elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heating
2. Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms
3. People who remain outdoors for long periods at any given time
4. People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs

What are the warning signs of hypothermia?

1. A person may not know he has hypothermia - it's good to establish a buddy system when one anticipates being in cold weather for long periods of time.

2. For adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech drowsiness

3. For infants and children: bright red, cold skin and very low energy

4. The body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced

5. Unable to think clearly or move well - a low body temperature results in this

When do I seek medical attention for hypothermia?

Medical help should be called immediately when a person who has been in cold air or water is displaying the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Keep the person warm, while waiting for help to arrive. Do not apply direct heat, massage the person or provide alcoholic beverages because a person could go into cardiac arrest if the body is not reheated properly.

How do I help someone who is displaying symptoms of hypothermia?

1. Get the person into a warm room or shelter.
2. Remove any wet clothing (if necessary).
3. Keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.
4. Warm the center of the body first-chest, neck, head, and groin-using an electric blanket, if available, or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets.
5. Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.

What can I do to prevent hypothermia?

1. Always dress for the weather, being sure to cover ears, nose, face, and head at all times.
2. Wear mittens instead of gloves, fingers circulate blood without restrictions.
3. Wear wool socks or two pairs of socks and waterproof shoes to keep feet warm.
4. Keep an additional pair of socks, secured in a plastic bag, to replace any socks that become damp or wet.
5. Clothes should fit loosely to avoid a decrease in the amount of blood supplied to legs and arms.
6. Do not smoke or drink because it can affect your body's blood circulation.
7. Always travel with a friend in case help would be needed or something would happen.
8. Pay attention to the "real feel" temperature. This temperature factors in the wind chill, which may be much lower than the reported air temperature.

Where do I go to find more information about hypothermia?

There are several ways to find more information about hypothermia. Our recommended Web sites are http://www.doh.dc.gov, http://www.nih.gov and http://www.hhs.gov.

HHS