How to Stay Safe in Extreme Cold

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En español | Much of the country is still freezing and under an arctic blast that brought snow and ice to places, such as Texas, that are unaccustomed to severe winter weather. Millions have lost power, and therefore heat, which can lead to medical emergencies such as frostbite and hypothermia.

Older people are especially vulnerable when temperatures drop because they have less efficient circulation. They also may have medical conditions (such as thyroid problems or diabetes) and take medications (such as beta-blockers) that can raise their risk of health problems, including injuries, in the cold, says Matthew Levy, associate professor of emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Bone density decreases, which could put someone at risk for injuries from falls, and blood pressure medicine may not allow your heart rate to increase as needed” [when shoveling snow, for instance].

Another issue is a decrease in muscle mass, says Ronan Factora, M.D. a geriatric medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Normal muscle “is what twitches and creates heat when we shiver.” Because we have less muscle when we're older, we're less able to generate that vital heat.

How to protect yourself in frigid temperatures 

Pile on the layers. If you have no heat in your home, gather all blankets, coats, sleeping bags — anything that will allow you to maintain your body temperature — and bundle up. If your car is in a garage and you can't open the garage door, don't run the heater in your car to get warm or to charge devices.

Be careful with candles. If possible, use a flashlight as a light source instead of candles, which are a fire hazard.

Keep the weather outside. Do anything you can to maintain the temperature indoors if you don't have a heat source (or even if you do). The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping blinds and curtains closed, and to roll towels and place them under doors to keep out drafts. Close the doors to unused rooms and avoid opening doors to the outside unless absolutely necessary.

Take care with electric heaters and generators. When using a portable electric heater, follow these safety tips to avoid fire from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They include advice about making sure the device is not damaged in any way (is the cord hot when you plug it in?) and not leaving it unattended. And make sure it's at least 3 feet away from curtains or bedding.

Never use a gas-powered generator indoors; you can be poisoned by the colorless, odorless by-product: carbon monoxide. The American Red Cross has tips on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can make you feel warmer, but it actually lowers the body's temperature because it causes blood to flow from your core to your extremities. Too much alcohol will also impair your judgment — not something you want in a weather emergency.

Don't drink melted snow. If you don't have water, try to avoid drinking melted snow, which can be full of impurities. “I would advise against drinking it unless there's truly no other option,” Levy says. (It's less risky, of course, if you can boil it before drinking.)

Dress right. Multiple thin layers can insulate you better than one thick layer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests wearing an inner layer of wool, silk or polypropylene, which will hold more body heat than cotton. If you start to get too warm, take off a layer before you begin to sweat. (Sweat lowers your body temperature.) Mittens are warmer than gloves.

Be careful while clearing snow. Extreme exertion, such as shoveling, can lead to a heart attack. “People who aren't normally used to doing such strenuous exercise should not shovel unless they literally have a clean bill of health from their doctor,” Levy says. And note that every winter brings distressing snowblower injuries. You can't be too careful when using one.

Find a shelter. If you're unable to get warm at home or you're far from home, go to a shelter or warming center (Texas has a map of its current warming centers online) if there is one nearby and you can get there safely. Due to the pandemic, you'll want to bring masks, sanitizer, your own blankets, water and food, if possible. See more tips from the CDS on staying safe in a public disaster shelter during COVID-19.

Don't drive unless you must. If you do, drive slowly — even if you have four-wheel or all-wheel drive, says Lee DeBell, an AARP Driver Safety instructor in New Hampshire. “Sometimes people feel overconfident” when they have those features,” DeBell says. “But one of the biggest things in icy conditions is doing everything more slowly — taking turns, braking — than you normally would do.” Also, consider taking back roads, if they are plowed, because they “can have much less traffic and fewer accidents.” And before hitting the road, be sure to clear all the snow and ice off all the windows — not just off the front windshield — so you have full visibility. And also clear the snow and ice from the top of the car to prevent it from blowing off on other vehicles and impeding their drivers’ visibility. (Doing so is required by law in New Hampshire.)

If you have time to plan ahead before bad weather hits, prepare a winter survival kit to keep in your vehicle, including a change of clothes, blanket, food and water.

Keep pets safe. Animals should already be inside, but remember that they can get cold — and hypothermia and frostbite — too. Keep them dry, and warm, using blankets and hot-water bottles if they seem dangerously cold. If you walk your dog outdoors, try to avoid areas with salt; the Humane Society of the United States warns that canines are at risk for salt poisoning because they often lick their paws after a walk.

Keep an eye on the fridge and freezer. If you lose power, food can spoil — and eating spoiled food can make you sick. If you've been away from home and return to a working freezer, you might not realize that you had previously lost power and that the food has refrozen. So Levy suggests a “life hack": Freeze a cup of water inside the freezer and then put a penny on top. If you check the cup later and the penny has sunk, you know the water has melted and then refrozen.

Check on others. When temperatures are extremely cold, check on more vulnerable family members and neighbors. Even if they're indoors, they may be at risk. “You don't have to be in a cabin in Montana to get hypothermia,” Levy notes.

Christina Ianzito writes about health, travel and entertainment for AARP. She is the recipient of a Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing.

Also of Interest

• 3 safety tips when driving through winter weather
• What to do if winter weather delays your vaccine
  
• These winter accessories are no substitutes for face masks