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Staying Warm Inside and Out &
Hypothermia
Maybe you already knew that your
health, your age, what you eat or
drink, even your clothes can make it
hard for you to stay warm enough
wherever you are. What you might not
realize is that people can also get
cold enough inside a building to get
very sick. In fact, hypothermia can
even happen to someone in a nursing
home or group facility if the rooms
are not kept warm enough. People
living there who are already sick
may have special problems keeping
warm. If someone you know is in a
group facility, pay attention to the
inside temperature there and to
whether that person is dressed
warmly enough.
Homes or apartments that are not
heated enough, even with a
temperature of 60° F to 65° F, can
lead to illness. This is a special
problem if you live alone because
there is no one else to comment on
the chilliness of the house or to
notice if you are having symptoms of
hypothermia. Set your thermostat for
at least 68° F to 70° F. If a power
outage leaves you without heat, try
to stay with a relative or friend.
Avoid using space heaters if your
home seems cold or if you want to
keep the thermostat set lower to
keep your heating costs down. Some
types are fire hazards, and others
can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Consumer Product Safety
Commission has information on the
use of space heaters, but here are a
few things to remember:
$ Make sure your space heater has
been approved by a recognized
testing laboratory.
$ Choose the right size heater for
the space you are heating.
$ Keep substances that can catch
fire like paint, pets, clothing,
towels, curtains, and papers away
from the heating element.
$ Keep the door to the rest of the
house open for good air flow.
$ Turn the heater off when you leave
the room or go to bed.
$ Make sure your smoke alarms are
working.
$ Put a carbon monoxide detector
near where people sleep.
$ Keep the right type of fire
extinguisher nearby.
Don’t forget that you need to stay
warm when it’s cold outside.
Remember that this means knowing if
weather forecasts are for very cold
temperatures or for windy and cold
weather. You lose more body heat on
a windy day than a calm day. Weather
forecasters call this the wind-chill
factor. They often suggest, even
when the outside temperature itself
is not very low, that the wind-chill
factor is cold enough for people to
stay indoors. If you must go out,
dress correctly. Be sure to wear a
hat and gloves, as well as warm
clothes.
Content Courtesy :
www.niapublications.org
Note : Information herein is
provided for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. You
should not use this information for
diagnosing or treating a medical or
health condition. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem,
promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider. Please consult
your healthcare provider before
beginning any course of
supplementation or treatment.
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