Health Explainer: Extreme Cold EMER_26347330 03

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
How to keep yourself and loved ones safe in the cold]

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[Text on screen: Jennah Morgan, MD
Emergency Medicine Physician
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center]

Jennah Morgan, MD: To prevent hypothermia, I think follow Grandma's advice, right? Wear a hat and a scarf and a warm coat. Avoid going outside with wet hair. Avoid going outside with wet clothes. Some people have preferences. They don't like heavy jackets. 

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But keep in mind the temperature and dress accordingly as much as you can. If you have decreased ability to access adequate shelter, make note of the warming centers in the area and try to be near them as much as you can. Try to always access warm transportation. And if you have to be outside, make sure you have warm shoes, warm socks, shoes that prevent water seeping in to keep yourself as warm as possible. And if you feel like you are cold, seek assistance as much as you can.

Some precautions that people can take to prepare if they're going to travel or they know they're going to be outside, one, warm coats. I'm not marketing for any company, but down coats are pretty warm. Make sure you have waterproof shoes that are also warm, as well as warm socks. In the event that you get stuck, it might be helpful to have a blanket in the car or heater packs if you're able to get those. Keep in mind the people who are most vulnerable. And so if you have children with you and you're stuck in a cold environment, body heat is also helpful, and so staying close to one another and allowing yourself to shiver. Shivering raises our body temperature about five degrees and is one of our protecting mechanisms. And so although it feels uncomfortable, if you are shivering, it's because your body needs it.

Some things that are really important to note during the winter and in the summer with extremes of temperature are vulnerable populations, and to note that not everybody has access to adequate shelter.

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And so in the event that you are aware of a warming center, please support it just so that we have decreased injury associated with cold.

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
For more information, visit: health.osu.edu]

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