With the temperatures expected to plummet during today’s snowstorm,Cindy Lord, clinical associate professor and director of the physician assistant program at Quinnipiac University, is available to offer advice about avoiding hypothermia.
“I use the acronym C.O.L.D.,” Lord said.
Cover up: Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat loss from your head, face and neck.
Overexertion: Avoid activities that cause you to sweat a lot. This can cause you to lose body heat more quickly.
Layers: Dress in layers. Wear loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat better than cotton does.
Dry: Stay as dry as possible. Get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. Keep your hands and feet dry.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the following tips to help prevent hypothermia when children are outside in cold weather:
- Dress infants and young children in one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
- Limit the amount of time children spend outside in the cold.
- Have children come inside frequently to warm themselves.
Lord said, call 911 or your local emergency number if you see someone with signs of hypothermia or you suspect a person has prolonged exposure to cold weather.