Cold Weather Safety for Seniors
With frigid temperatures lasting for days on end, our senior population can be vulnerable. The long stretches of cold weather presents unusual challenges for older adults. One threat is hypothermia, which is when a person experiences dangerously low body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The older adult’s body is more prone to hypothermia because they produce less heat than younger bodies. Therefore, it requires a shorter time of exposure for them to develop hypothermia.
“If a person’s body temperature falls just a few degrees below normal they run the risk of many problems,” says David Levine, MD, medical director of Lakewood Hospital Emergency Department. “A drop from 98.6 degrees, which is normal, to below 95 degrees may cause an older adult to have a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage and more if the exposure persists. If a person’s body temperature falls below 95 degrees they will require immediate medical attention,” says Dr. Levine.
Luckily, being affected by the cold temperatures problems can be avoided. The key is to be observant. Know the signs of hypothermia and be prepared with ways to stay warm.
Signs of trouble
Dr. Levine says there are clear warning signs for hypothermia, which include:
- A puffy or swollen face
- Acting sleepy
- Being angry or confused
- Cold feet and hands
- Lots of shivering early. As things worsen, they eventually stop shivering.
- Pale skin
- Slower than normal speech or slurring words
Once hypothermia sets in, the symptoms become much more exaggerated. For instance, a person with hypothermia may experience stiff limbs that limit movement, or slow shallow breathing.
Tips for staying warm and offset the possibility of hypothermia:
- If an elderly loved one lives alone, be sure to check in on them on a regular basis.
- There are some medications that may make a person more vulnerable to hypothermia, which includes over-the-counter medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medications.
- Your mother was right! If you are going to be exposed to the cold temperatures, be sure to bundle up. Wear a hat and gloves. Protect your face with a scarf.
- Dress in layers even when inside your home.
- If you sit for long periods of time, grab a blanket to lay over your lap and legs.
- Long exposure to low temperatures can cause hypothermia, so keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or higher.
- If you use a fireplace or kerosene heater, be sure to have a functional smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector close by. If you use a space heater, be sure it’s at least three feet from flammable materials, including carpeting. Always turn off the space heater when you leave a room.
- Stay dry; when you are wet you lose heat faster.
“Hypothermia is a medical emergency, no matter what the person’s age,” says Dr. Levine. “If you believe someone has hypothermia, call 911 if their body temperature does not rise to 96 degrees or higher. Most importantly, do not rub the person to warm them. This rubbing can cause severe damage. Try covering the person with a warm blanket or whatever is handy until help arrives.”
Lakewood Hospital Emergency Department
The Emergency Department (ER) at Lakewood Hospital is open 24/7 every day of the year. Each year, nearly 34,000 people from Cleveland’s West Side visit the ER at Lakewood Hospital, receiving the expert care and treatment they’ve depended on since 1907.
You and your family can count on:
• Highly regarded emergency care to treat patients of all ages with minor to critical injuries and illnesses, including broken bones, strokes and heart attacks.
• State-of-the-art technology and a team of experts who specialize in neurology, diabetes care, orthopaedic surgery and senior care.
• Board-certified ER physicians and registered nurses specialize in emergency medicine with the latest training and knowledge to respond to any emergency situation.
Our staff is dedicated to making you comfortable and providing superior care because your life is our life’s work.
As part of our Vision for Tomorrow, emergency care is just one of the many specialties in which Lakewood Hospital is investing heavily to provide a level of expertise and technology like never before.
Do you know when to go to the ER? Learn what to look for at lakewoodhospital.org/ER