ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - It is already cold, and with even more cold air in the forecast, Allen County Public Health is reminding people about the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite.
To stay safe in the cold, Allen County Public Health emphasizes that layering up will be your best bet.
Hypothermia is when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees as your body loses heat faster than it can produce. Frostbite is when unexposed skin, outer extremities, and any underlying tissue freeze due to prolonged exposure. For hypothermia, signs and symptoms include shivering, confusion, slurred speech, weak pulse, and unconsciousness. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and can be deadly if untreated. Symptoms of frostbite include numbness and tingling along with skin discoloration and pain. Even if the air temperature is well above zero, it is the wind chill that needs to be taken into account during cold spells.
"Having a coat on that protects you from that wind is going to keep that heat close to your body and prevent that from going out into the atmosphere. If you have wind just hitting your bare arms when you're out, the goal is to take heat away from your body from that sweat. Well, if the wind is going to be taking that away, you're going to be losing that more, and it's just colder than what it would've been back in August where it was 95 degrees outside," stated Brandon Fischer, health commissioner at the Allen County Public Health.
Even if the air temperature is well above zero, it is the wind chill that needs to be taken into account during cold spells.
To stay safe in the cold, Fischer emphasizes that layering up will be your best bet. Make sure those layers are completely dry. Also, avoid drinking alcohol outdoors in the bitter cold. Alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand and potentially allows more space for the cold to enter. If you have symptoms of frostbite, get into a warm room and run cool water under the affected extremities. For hypothermia, get to somewhere warm and call 9-1-1.
