Tips for staying safe in cold weather By Jaikumar pareta

Tips for staying safe in cold weather.

BY JAIKUMAR PARETA 

Hypothermia and older adults

The cold truth about hypothermia is that Americans aged 65 years and older face this danger every winter. Older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia because their body's response to cold can be diminished by underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, some medicines including over-the-counter cold remedies, and aging itself. As a result, hypothermia can develop in older adults after even relatively mild exposure to cold weather or a small drop in temperature.

These tips will help older people avoid this dangerous cold-weather condition. When the temperature gets too cold or the body's heat production decreases, hypothermia occurs. Hypothermia is defined as having a core body temperature below 95 degrees.

Someone suffering from hypothermia may show one or more of the following signs: slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness or confusion, shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs, poor control over body movements or slow reactions, or a weak pulse. Older adults can lose body heat fast—faster than when they were young. A big chill can turn into a dangerous problem before an older person even knows what’s happening. Doctors call this serious problem hypothermia (hi-po-ther-mee-uh).

Hypothermia is what happens when your body temperature gets very low. For an older person, a body temperature colder than 95 degrees can cause many health problems such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.

Being outside in the cold, or even being in a very cold house, can lead to hypothermia. You can take steps to lower your chance of getting hypothermia.

Read this booklet for tips on how to stay safe when it's cold outside. Share it with your family and friends.

Keep warm inside

Living in a cold house, apartment, or other building can cause hypothermia. People who are sick may have special problems keeping warm. Do not let it get too cold inside and dress warmly.

• To keep warm at home, wear long johns under your clothes. Throw a blanket over your legs. Wear socks and slippers.
• When you go to sleep, wear long johns under your pajamas, and use extra covers. Wear a cap or hat.
• Ask family or friends to check on you during cold weather.

• What can an older person do to keep a normal body temperature?

  Set the heat in your house at 68 degrees. You may qualify for help with your heating bill. Dress warmly both indoors and when going out on cold, windy days. Read tips for keeping warm inside and tips for bundling up outdoors.

  Can health problems or medicines make it hard to stay warm?

  Yes, hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone), arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and other health problems can make it harder for a person’s body to stay warm. Some types of medicine can also make it easy to get too cold.
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What Are The Signs Of Hypothermia?

When you think about being cold, you probably think of shivering. That is one way the body stays warm when it gets cold. But, shivering alone does not mean you have hypothermia.

How do you know if someone has hypothermia? Look for the "umbles"—stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles—these show that the cold is a problem. Check for:

• Confusion or sleepiness
• Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing
• Weak pulse
• Change in behavior or in the way a person looks
• A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs
• Poor control over body movements or slow reactions

Taking Action

A normal body temperature is 98.6 °F. A few degrees lower, for example, 95 °F, can be dangerous. It may cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart problems and death.

If you think someone could have hypothermia, use a thermometer to take his or her temperature. Make sure you shake the thermometer so it starts below its lowest point. When you take the temperature, if the reading doesn't rise above 96 °F, call for emergency help. In many areas, that means calling 911.

While you are waiting for help to arrive, keep the person warm and dry. Try and move him or her to a warmer place. Wrap the person in blankets, towels, coats—whatever is handy. Even your own body warmth will help. Lie close, but be gentle. Give the person something warm to drink but stay away from alcohol or caffeinated drinks, like regular coffee.

The Emergency Room The only way to tell for sure that someone has hypothermia is to use a special thermometer that can read very low body temperatures. Most hospitals have these thermometers. In the emergency room, doctors will warm the person's body from inside out. For example, they may give the person warm fluids directly by using an IV. Recovery depends on how long the person was exposed to the cold and his or her general health.

How Do I Stay Safe?

• Try to stay away from cold places. Changes in your body that come with aging can make it harder for you to be aware of getting cold.
• You may not always be able to warm yourself. Pay attention to how cold it is where you are.
• Check the weather forecasts for windy and cold weather. Try to stay inside or in a warm place on cold and windy days. If you have to go out, wear warm clothes including a hat and gloves. A waterproof coat or jacket can help you stay warm if it's cold and snowy.
• Wear several layers of loose clothing when it's cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Don't wear tight clothing because it can keep your blood from flowing freely. This can lead to loss of body heat.
• Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some medicines used by older people can increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. These include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or nausea. Some over-the-counter cold remedies can also cause problems.
• When the temperature has dropped, drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.
• Make sure you eat enough food to keep up your weight. If you don't eat well, you might have less fat under your skin. Body fat helps you to stay warm.

Health Problems

Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. These include problems with your body's hormone system such as low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), health problems that keep blood from flowing normally (like diabetes), and some skin problems where your body loses more heat than normal.

Some health problems may make it hard for you to put on more clothes, use a blanket, or get out of the cold. For example:

• Severe arthritis, Parkinson's disease, or other illnesses that make it tough to move around
• Stroke or other illnesses that can leave you paralyzed and may make clear thinking more difficult
• Memory loss
• A fall or other injury

Staying Warm Inside

Being in a cold building can also cause hypothermia. In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. People who are already sick may have special problems keeping warm. If someone you know is in a group facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.

Even if you keep your temperature between 60 °F and 65 °F, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. For some people, this temperature can contribute to hypothermia. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia. Set your thermostat for at least 68 °F to 70 °F. If a power outage leaves you without heat, try to stay with a relative or friend.

You may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater. But, some space heaters are fire hazards, and others can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has information on the use of space heaters, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure your space heater has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Choose the right size heater for the space you are heating.
• Put the heater on a flat, level surface that will not burn.
• Keep children and pets away from the heating element.
• Keep things that can catch fire like paint, clothing, bedding, curtains, and papers away from the heating element.
• If your heater has a flame, keep a window open at least one-inch and doors open to the rest of your home for good air flow.
• Turn the heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
• Put a carbon monoxide detector near where people sleep.
• Keep an approved fire extinguisher nearby

• When going outside in the cold, it is important to wear a hat, scarf, and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through your head and hands. Also consider letting someone know you’re going outdoors and carry a fully charged cellphone.  A hat is particularly important because a large portion of body heat can be lost through the head. Wear several layers of loose clothing to help trap warm air between the layers.
• Check with your doctor to see if any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking may increase your risk for hypothermia.
• Make sure your home is warm enough. Some experts suggest that, for older people, the temperature be set to at least 68 degrees. 
• To stay warm at home, wear long underwear under your clothes, along with socks and slippers. Use a blanket or afghan to keep your legs and shoulders warm and wear a hat or cap indoors.