According to a recent report, about 44 people died in Delhi between 1 January and 6 January, including a two-year-old child due to the cold weather conditions. Several of these deaths may probably be due to a condition called 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. An individual may suffer from hypothermia if he has been exposed to cool 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. Some tips from Heart Care Foundation of India:
- Make sure the home is warm.
- 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. Wear several layers of warm loose clothing to help trap warm air between the layers.
- Use a blanket to keep your legs and shoulders warm.
- Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through your head and hands when going out in the cold.
