When the frigid weather hit the Midwest in January, I had mixed feelings. I was glad to be dealing with the cold in Florida rather than the conditions in Ohio. But I felt guilty because my family was in Ohio. Even the dog missed vacationing me.

Then I heard The Weather Channel guy talking about how quickly ice freezes in Chicago in single digits and he mentioned shelters with 5,800 +/- beds for homeless who need a warm place. TWC advised that with such cold temperatures, the thermostat on your heat source should be set at 65 degrees to keep water pipes from freezing. Then I thought of my elderly parents.

For Christmas, my mother got fleece pajamas. I made a double-layer blanket from polar fleece for her. If she's cold when the outdoor temperature is 50 degrees, she must be half-frozen by now, I thought.

What is hypothermia? And how is it treated? How do you avoid it? Does it have anything to do with poor circulation?

Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 96 degrees F, from staying in a cold place for too long. For instance, there is an ice storm and power lines are downed shutting down your heat supply for a length of time. Hypothermia causes irregular heartbeat that can lead to heart problems and even death if not treated right away.

There are things to look for to determine if someone is suffering hypothermia, somethings called the “umbles”: stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, grumbles. Hypothermia symptoms include:

· Confusion or sleepiness.
· Slowed, slurred speech; shallow breathing.
· Weak pulse, low blood pressure.
· Change in behavior during cold weather or a change in the way they look.
· A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in arms or legs.
· Chilly rooms or other signs that they’ve been in a cold place.
· Poor control over body movements or slow reactions.

If you suspect someone is in the state of hypothermia, here are some dos and don’ts:

· Shake thermometer to lowest point and take temperature.
· If temperature is below 96 degrees F, call for emergency help.
· Get the person to a doctor immediately.
· Keep the person warm and dry until help arrives. Use blankets, towels, coats, whatever is available to wrap around them.
· Do NOT rub arms and legs. The skin might tear.

Are you at risk of hypothermia?

· Avoid cold places.
· Eat enough food to keep your weight. Fat under the skin helps to keep you warm.
· Control illnesses you may have, such as hormonal problems (i.e. hypothyroidism), blood flow problems (i.e. diabetes) and skin problems that allow more loss of body heat (i.e. psoriasis.)
· Layer your clothing. (Fleece wear is one of the most wonderful fashion inventions, in my humble opinion.) Avoid tight-fitting clothing that may restrict blood flow.
· Ask your doctor about medications you take that may affect your ability to stay warm.
· Don’t drink alcohol before bedtime because it can make you lose body heat faster.
· Keep the heat thermostat at 68 or 70 degrees F. If your power goes off for some reason, stay with a relative or friend until power is restored.
· Use caution when using space heaters. They can be a dangerous fire hazard.

For more information about this topic, visit http://www.niapublications.org/agepage/hypother.asp and http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/faq.asp. You also can contact your area Agency on Aging, Community Action Agency or senior center for assistance in weatherizing your home and receiving assistance in paying your heating bill.

If you are a neighbor, friend or family member, take a few minutes to call or visit to make sure your senior loved one is warm and safe during winter weather emergencies.