Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are forecast to be cold – very cold – the kind of cold that Alabama very rarely ever experiences. On Tuesday, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) warned the public that there is a real risk of hypothermia if you are exposed to that cold.
“Staying warm, keeping well informed, and taking extra precautions is extremely important during times of extremely cold weather, such as the coming days when below-freezing temperatures are predicted,” ADPH said. “Everyone should remember to lower risks of cold-weather health problems by dressing in multiple layers to help retain body heat, limit time outdoors, and remove wet clothing immediately.”
On Wednesday the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Birmingham issued a wind chill warning for Thursday and Friday.
“Extreme cold product UPDATES from overnight: A Wind Chill WARNING is now in effect Thursday night into Friday morning for northern counties,” NWS Birmingham wrote on Facebook. “Wind chills (feels like temps) are expected to be -10° or less in these areas. A Wind Chill Watch remains for areas further south.”
“To put this cold wave into perspective, our office (BMX) hasn’t issued a Wind Chill Warning that we can find at least since 2006 to 2007,” NWS Birmingham wrote on Twitter. “Wind chills are expected to be near zero as far south as Montgomery & Auburn Thursday night and into Friday morning. We can’t stress enough how dangerous these conditions will be if you’re outside for a prolonged period of time. We’re talking frostbite and hypothermia becoming a concern for folks who have prolonged exposure or without adequate warmth in those conditions.”
“When exposed to cold, our bodies begin to lose heat faster than it can be produced,” ADPH continued. “This results in abnormally low body temperature called hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees F, just a few degrees less than the normal body temperature.”
ADPH warns that “hypothermia makes people unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know when it is occurring and then will not be able to do anything about it.
According to preliminary data from the ADPH Center for Health Statistics, there have already been 12 deaths in Alabama residents due to hypothermia this year. Ten Alabamians died from hypothermia in 2021, eight in 2020, nine in 2019, and thirteen in 2018.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), victims of hypothermia are often:
· Older adults with inadequate food, clothing, or heating
· Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms
· People who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.
· People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
ADPH explained that as the body ages, the ability to maintain a constant internal temperature decreases. Hypothermia risk is even greater when an older person has a chronic condition that affects the circulatory or neurologic systems, or the thyroid. When the core temperature falls, bodily functions shut down.
To provide protection, older adults living quarters should be heated to at least 65 degrees F, they should wear suitable clothing, have plenty of warm blankets available, and eat nutritionally balanced food.
In addition to advanced age, common risk factors for hypothermia are substance abuse and mental impairment. Certain commonly used drugs such as tranquilizers may contribute to the onset of hypothermia. Furthermore, many deaths from hypothermia are complicated by alcohol consumption, which can lead to dehydration and impaired judgment.
The CDC lists the following signs and symptoms of hypothermia:
For adults, the symptoms of hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness.
For babies, the symptoms of hypothermia are very low energy with bright red and cold skin.
Hypothermia is a medical emergency, and immediate medical attention is needed if a person’s temperature falls below 95 degrees Farenheit. The CDC advises to get medical attention and try to warm the person up by getting the person into a warm room or shelter. Additionally, remove any wet clothing the person is wearing, warm the center of the person’s body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets can also be used. Warm drinks can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic drinks. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket. Be sure to get the person proper medical attention as soon as possible.
A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the person gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Perform CPR, even if the person appears dead. CPR should continue until the person responds or medical aid becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated.
The CDC website has hypothermia prevention information available.
NWS Birmingham wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning, “It’s now or never, folks. You have roughly 36 hrs to prepare for the dangerous cold, which will hit us like a ton of bricks tomorrow night. We can’t stress enough the potential impacts of this arctic surge. Lives could be in danger. PLEASE ensure you, family, friends, neighbors & pets are prepared!”
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
