We are in the midst of winter and it is cold!  Today’s high will be 28 degrees with an overnight low of 15 degrees.

These temperatures can be dangerous and you could suffer from hypothermia if you are outside too long and not protected from the extreme cold.

Hypothermia is when your body temperature falls from its usual temperature of around 98.6°F to below 95°F.  People are more susceptible to hypothermia if they are very young, elderly, have an under lying medical condition, consumed alcohol or drugs, or if they are unusually tired.

Hypothermia is due to the body losing heat without being able to replace it.  Some of the signs are:

Shivering

Slow, shallow breathing

Confusion and memory loss

Drowsiness or exhaustion

Slurred or mumbled speech

Loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps

A slow, weak pulse.

In severe hypothermia, a person may be unconscious without obvious signs of breathing or a pulse

Medical experts say if someone is suffering from these symptoms – call 911 right away.

On a good note, spring arrives on March 20, 2017.  The Farmers Almanac says April and May will be rainier than normal.

By:  Dianah Gibson