By Jennifer Theurer
Hypothermia seems like a problem for arctic regions, but Clay County Health Department Administrator Dana Rickley says it can happen even when the temperatures are warmer.
“Hypothermia can occur in any temperature below 50 degrees, especially if a person or an animal is wet or exposed to wind,” she said. “In freezing temperatures, the risk increases quickly.”
People of all ages are susceptible to hypothermia when the conditions are right, but Rickley cautions parents of young children especially.
“Young children are very vulnerable because they lose heat faster than adults and may not recognize early warning signs,” Rickley said. “They also tend to play outside without proper coats, hats or gloves and even short periods in cold, wet or rainy weather can put them at risk.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the early symptoms of hypothermia include, but are not limited to, shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, and confusion or disorientation. And a person doesn’t have to be outside for it to set in.
“It can also happen indoors if you’re in a poorly heated home, after a fall, or long periods on the ground, or when people are exhausted and not eating enough,” she said. “Also, pets left outside or in an unheated shelter can develop hypothermia under the same conditions.”
