Extreme Cold Poses Health Risks to Humans & Animals Alike

By

StateCollege.com Staff

–

January 9, 2015

Community & Entertainment, Life Entertainment, Local News, Other, State College

There’s a reason that extremely cold weather is referred to as “biting” – if you let it, the cold will sink its teeth in, and it can hurt.

Temperatures throughout this week have hovered in the teens, with wind chills making the outside feel as cold as fifteen degrees below zero. During these bitter periods, Rich Kelley – the emergency medical services supervisor with Mount Nittany Medical Center– says that certain groups of people are at a greater risk for health concerns from the intense weather.

“For some people with pre-existing medical conditions, or for the elderly, the extreme cold can be dangerous,” Kelley says. “Severe cold and strong winds are of particular concern to young children and the elderly population, as these age groups are more susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia.”

These two conditions are the biggest issues that come with extreme cold, says Mount Nittany Physician Group nurse practitioner Lester Griel.

Frostbite most often occurs in extremities like noses, fingers, toes and ears when exposed to extreme cold for too long. Blood flow to these parts of the body can be limited by exposure to intense cold, which can lead to numbness and stinging pain as the skin and underlying tissue is damaged.

Hypothermia works on a similar principle, but on a larger scale. Kelley explains that everyone’s body works hard to maintain an internal temperature of about 98.6 degrees. When the body’s temperature begins to drop, it responds by trying to generate more heat by shivering. When the body’s internal temperature drops too much, to 95 degrees or lower, hypothermia sets in.

“As a person becomes hypothermic, [the body] begins to shunt blood away from the surface, or the skin, towards the body core in an attempt to keep the essential core organs warm,” Kelley says.

Symptoms of hypothermia include intense shivering, drowsiness and exhaustion, confusion and memory loss, lack of coordination and slurred speech. The first step for treating both frostbite and hypothermia is to get out of the cold, remove any wet clothing and begin warming up. The second step for both is to immediately call 911 or seek medical attention.

Kelley advises that hypothermia is an especially serious condition. Heating blankets, if available, can be extremely helpful in warming a hypothermic individual until medical help arrives. Hot beverages can also help, “but only if the person is coherent enough to swallow.”

Griel says that the best way to treat both frostbite and hypothermia is to avoid them in the first place. This can be done be minimizing time spent in the cold, and making sure to cover all exposed skin when venturing outside. Dressing in layers is “especially crucial,” as are gloves, boots, a scarf and winter hat.

But human beings aren’t the only ones susceptible to the frigid winter weather. Your favorite four-legged family members get just as cold as people do.

“We always tell people that if you don’t want to be outside in these temperatures, then your pets don’t either,” says University Drive Veterinary Hospital office manager and technician Liz Allard.

Many common pets like cats and dogs are somewhat more impervious to the cold than humans, and have a slightly higher internal body temperature. Their coats also help insulate their bodies, but Allard says that’s not justification for leaving them outside.

She says the hospital hasn’t seen any pets suffering from hypothermia so far this winter. By following a few simple steps, you can help ensure that it stays that way.

First and foremost, bring your pets inside. While larger animals with thicker coats are more impervious to the cold than short-haired or smaller pets, Allard says the threat of hypothermia is very real and very serious.

When taking pets on walks, Allard recommends shortening the time spent outside. If your pet doesn’t have a thick coat or much muscle mass, an animal sweater or jacket may also be appropriate.

Like humans, the ears and the noses of many animals are more susceptible to the cold than the rest of their bodies. Allard adds that the pads of an animal’s paws can also be easily aggravated by cold or ice-melting salt, as the pads don’t have any protective fur. If your pet appears to be bothered by their paws or another part of their body, take them inside and warm them up.

If your pet is showing signs of hypothermia – like extreme shivering, lethargy and extremities that are cold to the touch – immediately move them somewhere warm, serve them warm water, and seek medical attention from a veterinarian.

For more tips on weathering State College’s bitter winter, check out our guide to prevent pipes from freezing, our guide to winterizing a car and our general cold weather advice page.