From what I have been reading, signs point to a dramatic change in our weather. A blast of cold air is expected to blanket almost all of the United States over the next week to 10 days. The colder than normal temperatures are expected to stick with us at least through the end of December.
Cold weather can cause hypothermia, says the National Institute on Aging. Older adults are among those who are especially vulnerable because of a diminished ability to endure long periods of exposure to cold temperatures. Older adults often make less body heat because their metabolism is lower and they are less physically active. Certain diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s Disease, and arthritis, and some medications, including over-the-counter cold remedies, can make it harder for your body to stay warm.
Some older adults can even develop hypothermia after exposure to relatively mild cold weather or a small drop in temperature.
With hypothermia, your body temperature drops to dangerously low levels. Among older adults, significant health problems can occur when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees. Hypothermia can cause a heart attack, problems with your kidneys, and damage to your liver. It can cost you your life.
Based on information from the National Institute on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, here are some things you can do.
10 Things You Can Do
- Set the temperature in your home or apartment to at least 68 degrees. Be sure to check the temperature often. If you are concerned about being able to afford the cost of heating your home or apartment, you may be able to get help paying your heating bill through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Illinois program, for instance, is designed to provide financial assistance for individuals who cannot afford to pay their heating bill and those who cannot cover the cost of heating equipment repairs. More information is available by calling 1-877-411-9276 or visiting this website.
- Eat well-balanced meals. Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages as they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly.
- Dress in layers as the air between the layers help you keep warm. Wear wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers as these fabrics hold in heat better than cotton. Wear a hat or cap.
- Wear long johns under your clothes. Throw a blanket over your legs. Wear socks and slippers.
- Wear long johns under your pajamas. Use extra covers. Wear a cap or hat when in bed.
- Stay inside when it is very windy outside. A high wind can quickly lower your body temperature.
- Find ways to stay active.
- Talk with your doctor about any health problems and medicines that can make hypothermia a special problem for you.
- Ask relatives, friends, neighbors to check on you frequently, especially when the weather conditions are extremely cold.
- Know the signs of hypothermia and watch for them.
Signs of Hypothermia
- Pale skin, cold feet and hands
- Puffy or swollen face
- Shivering
- Slower speech, slurring words
- Acting sleepy
- Anger or confusion
- Trouble walking or moving
- Clumsiness
- Stiff or jerky arm or leg movements
- Slow, irregular heartbeat
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Blacking out, loss of consciousness
If you think someone has signs of hypothermia, call 911 and get medical attention immediately.
Until medical help arrives, get the person into a warm room or shelter. Wrap the person in a blanket. Warm the center of the body first. Do not rub the person’s arms or legs, do not use a heating pad, and do not try to warm the person in a bath.
For more information, the National Institute on Aging makes available a helpful booklet filled with tips on how to stay safe when it is cold outside. The “Stay Safe in Cold Weather! Learn Why You Need to Stay Warm When It’s Cold” booklet is available free of charge.
Keep in mind that all of our assisted living communities serve as warming shelters for older adults during cold weather emergencies. Click here for a list of communities.
In addition, residents of Illinois can search for Warming Shelters on the Keep Warm Illinois website.