A Cold Weather Alert For Older People...Baby, Its Cold Outside
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
Friday, January 10, 1997
NIA Public Information Office
Office: (301) 496-1752
Baby, it's cold outside... That tuneful weather bulletin, written by Frank Loesser over 50 years ago, should be heeded not only by babies - it should especially be heeded by people who were kids when the tune was written but who are older adults now.
Certainly, the ice and snow that winter brings make falls and other accidents a problem for older people. But there is an important, less obvious danger that many older people may not be aware of. According to scientists at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the elderly are especially vulnerable to accidental hypothermia, a below-normal body temperature (typically 95°F or less) that can be life-threatening. While anyone who is exposed to severe cold without enough protection can be affected by the condition, with advancing age the body's ability to endure long periods of exposure to cold or heat is lowered. Older people may be less active and generate less body heat. As a result, they can develop accidental hypothermia even after exposure to relatively mild cold weather or a small drop in temperature.
Accidental hypothermia can be fatal if not detected and treated promptly. If you suspect that a friend or relative may have hypothermia, take the person's temperature. A temperature below 96°F will not register on an oral thermometer, a good sign the person should be taken to a hospital. Other warning signs of the condition include a slow irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, very slow breathing, sluggishness, or confusion. Any of these symptoms warrant emergency medical treatment.
Treatment involves rewarming the body, preferably under a doctor's supervision in a hospital. Until then, keep the person wrapped in a blanket to stay warm and dry. Chances for a complete recovery are best when the person's temperature has not dropped below 90°F and they are otherwise in good health.
How can you reduce the chances of getting accidental hypothermia? The NIA offers the following guidelines:
- Recognize if you are at risk and take precautions to keep warm even in a mildly cold climate.
- Dress warmly in layers of clothing whether you're indoors or outside
- Wear a hat, gloves, and other cold weather gear
- Stay warm in bed by wearing enough clothing and using blankets
- Keep active
- Eat a balanced diet
- Remember that body temperature can fall from drinking alcohol, being sick, or taking medicines
- Ask a friend or neighbor to look in on you periodically during a cold spell. Or see if your community has a telephone check-in or personal visiting service for older people or the homebound.
Setting the thermostat in your home at 68°F in living or sleeping areas should be adequate. According to the NIA, there is no scientific basis for specifically recommending higher room temperatures for older people, although people who are sick may need more heat.
For a free copy of the brochure Accidental Hypothermia: The Cold Can Be Trouble for Older People, send a postcard to the NIA Information Center/AH, P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20898-8057; or call NIA's toll-free number for publications, 1-800-222-2225 (1-800-222-4225 TTY).
NIA scientists are available to discuss hypothermia and aging. To arrange interviews or for further information, please call (301) 496-1752.
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