Enjoy New Year's Fireworks, But Not At The Expense Of Your Health
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
Q: With the Season's coldest night forecast for tonight, how can I avoid hypothermia if I plan to watch the SF Fireworks?
A: Let me first explain hypothermia.
Hypothermia is generally defined as having a core body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and can occur when the outside environment gets too cold or the body's heat production decreases.
Someone may suffer from hypothermia if he or she has been exposed to cold temperatures and shows one or more of the following signs: slowed or slurred speech; sleepiness or confusion; shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs; poor control over body movements; slow reactions, or a weak pulse.
Here are some tips to help people avoid hypothermia:
•Make sure your home is warm enough. Set the thermostat to at least 68 to 70 degrees. Even mildly cool homes with temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees can lead to hypothermia in older people.
•To stay warm at home, wear long underwear under your clothes, along with socks and slippers. Use a blanket or afghan to keep your legs and shoulders warm and wear a hat or cap indoors.
•When going outside in the cold, it is important to wear a hat, scarf, and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through your head and hands. A hat is particularly important because a large portion of body heat can be lost through the head. Wear several layers of warm loose clothing to help trap warm air between the layers.
•Check with your doctor to see if any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking may increase your risk for hypothermia.
I personally recommend UnderArmour. It is a great garment to wear under clothing. I wear this comfortable dual-layer construction for extra protection while cycling on cold days or skiing in Tahoe! It keeps me well insulated.
Any questions or observations? I would love to hear from you! Please email me at:Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com
