Brrr, it's cold outside and this is a good time to highlight a dangerous concept among older adults during winter - hypothermia. We all know about the winter damages such as broken bones from falls on ice or slippery snow, however, there is something else to watch out for also. The cold weather and wind chill also lowers the temperature inside your body, which can be extremely dangerous if not treated quickly. Signs of hypothermia include: weak pulse or decreased blood pressure, chilly room temperatures, shivering or stifness in legs, slowed speech, confusion, or sleepiness.
There are several safety precautions to take to prevent hypothermia:
Source: National Institute on Aging
There are several safety precautions to take to prevent hypothermia:
- Ask your physician how the medicines you are taking affect body heat.
- Make sure you are eating enough food to keep up your weight. Fat keeps heat in your body.
- Make sure your living environment is set to 68-70 degress.
- Sometimes you may need to put on more clothes to help keep warm.
- If driving, always start the car and allow it to warm up before driving in the winter months.
Source: National Institute on Aging
Eric Tinsley
Alan Stanford 
Jean Bandos
Karen Kelsey
Natalie Crohn
George Slater
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