Weather Outside Can Be Frightful

January 2000 - Weather Outside Can Be Frightful

by Richard H. Middleton, Jr. & Leah S. Guerry

Wintertime in most parts of the country means cold weather and, with the colder temperatures, an increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite. The best way to prevent succumbing to either condition is to be prepared.

Hypothermia is the unintentional lowering of the body's core temperature. The body's normal temperature is 98.6° F (or 35.5° C). A seemingly small drop in temperature to below 96° F can have deadly effects.

The latest statistics available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta show that from 1979 to 1995, an annual average of 723 deaths in the United States were attributed to hypothermia. During this same 17-year period, 12,368 deaths were attributed to environmental hypothermia, which results from heat loss due to wind and exposure to the elements. The CDC's report also reveals that hypothermia-related deaths have occurred in states like Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, where climates are considered mild, but where weather systems can rapidly change and catch people without the necessary clothing to protect themselves.

The population most at risk of hypothermia is the elderly. According to the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging (NIA), hypothermia is a particular problem for older people because they are more sensitive to cold, yet have more difficulty regulating their temperature. Many people may be surprised to learn that even mildly cool temperatures of 60 ° - 65 ° F, indoors, can lead to hypothermia.

"Older people really do need the thermostat in their homes turned up. A comfortable temperature for a young person could be dangerous for an older person," says one NIA spokeswoman.

In addition, elderly people who have illnesses or conditions like stroke, severe arthritis, conditions that affect the normal flow of blood, disorders of the body's hormone system, and Parkinson's Disease may have a reduced awareness of cold. Certain medications, such as drugs to treat anxiety, depression, nausea, and the common cold, may also interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature.

The NIA suggests people familiarize themselves with the signs of hypothermia:

Confusion or sleepiness;
Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing;
Weak pulse; low blood pressure;
A change in behavior or appearance;
Excess shivering, or no shivering, Stiffness in arms or legs;
Slow reactions; poor control over body movements;
Chilly rooms or other signs a person has been in a cold place

Outdoor sports enthusiasts also run a high risk of developing hypothermia. In fact, according to information provided by Adventure Sports Online, hypothermia is the number one killer of outdoor recreationalists.

According to the NIA, chances of recovering from hypothermia depend on how long a person was exposed to the cold, and general health. If body temperature falls below 80 ° F, most victims will not survive.

It is imperative to get emergency help for people suffering from hypothermia, as doctors will warm the body from the inside out with, for example, warm intravenous fluids.

Like hypothermia, frostbite is similarly caused by prolonged exposure to moderate cold or brief exposure to extreme cold. Frostbite results when blood flow to the skin is decreased and ice crystals develop in the fluid in and around the skin cells. Hands, fingers, feet, toes, noes, ears and cheeks are most susceptible to frostbite.

Symptoms of frostbite include: Numbness, pain in the affected area; Prickly sensations; Firm, whitened skin; Peeling or blistering; Itching; and Swelling, hard, glossy, grayish, yellow skin.

You can avoid frostbite by avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure. Some tips offers by allHealth.com include, covering the vulnerable areas of your body with a scarf or head and face protection when outdoors; putting on layered, warm clothing with wind and waterproof outer layers; wearing mittens and insulated or wool socks with waterproof boots. Remember that tobacco, caffeine and alcohol make the skin more prone to frostbite. If your clothes become wet, change immediately (wet clothing can easily lead to hypothermia).

If you suspect you, or someone else, has frostbite, seek immediate medical attention as some cases of severe frostbite can lead to amputation.

For more information on the effects of hypothermia on the elderly, please visit NIH. For detailed information on hypothermia and outdoor sports, go to Adventure Sports.

Richard H. Middleton, Jr., president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, is a partner in the Savannah, GA, law firm of Middleton, Mathis, Adams & Tate, P.C.

Leah S. Guerry is the executive director of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association.

Reprinted with permission of Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, P. O. Box 4289, Baton Rouge; (225) 383-5554 or (800) 354-6267.