State health officials Friday advised Coloradans planning outdoor activities in cold temperatures to dress warmly, use caution on snowy or icy walks and to move indoors if they begin to experience hypothermia symptoms. Symptoms include shivering, numbness, fatigue, poor coordination, slurred speech, blueness or puffiness of the skin and disorientation. People need to understand the hazards of wind chill, which can be life threatening.
Wind chill combines the cooling effect of wind, cold temperatures and humidity on exposed skin.
As the wind increases and outside temperatures drop, body heat is carried away, lowering body temperature rapidly. Health officials said that high risk factors for hypothermia include underlying medical conditions and body size and advise individuals to avoid consuming alcohol or drugs that can cause physiological changes that increase susceptibility to cold conditions. Dress in several layers of clothing. Make certain every member of a household always wears hats and gloves, especially babies and small children. Thirty percent of body heat is lost through the head.