Julia K Cole

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold, and a geriatric expert is offering tips on keeping senior citizens safe.  They   produce less body heat, and hypothermia can develop even during sleep . A  good preventive step is  to make sure the elderly use extra blankets and to make sure that the temperature  where they reside is set appropriately .   Cool homes with temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees can trigger hypothermia in older people.  T he thermostat should be kept at a minimum of 70 degrees for the elderly. For the elderly, disabled, and those with special needs, the cold weather means it's harder to get to the pharmacy, shovel snow, or run to the grocery store. Joann Moore, the spokesperson for the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross, says now is the time to be a good neighbor, by getting out and knocking on the doors of your elderly neighbors to make sure they’re coping well.“First of all, I would recommend t...

Dress Warmly and Stay Dry Dress in layers.   Wear a hat. Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.   Stay dry —wet clothing chills the body rapidly.   Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.   Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.   Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.   Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because infants lose body heat more easily than adults. Hypothermia When exposed to cold tempera...