Did
You Know?
Archived Years
2003
January: Cold Weather Concerns - Hypothermia
Cold weather can be risky for anyone, but especially for older
people. Winter weather can lead to a temperature drop inside the
body that can be deadly if the individual is not found quickly
and treated properly. This lowered body temperature is called
hypothermia. Nearly 700 Americans die of hypothermia each year.
Those at greatest risk are older adults, who account for half
of hypothermia-related deaths, and children.
Normal core body temperature can range between 98.9
F and 99.9 F. An internal body temperature of 95 F or lower signals
hypothermia. It is a special problem for older people, who often
have other illnesses or take medications that can interfere with
the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.
People who live in poorly heated homes risk getting accidental
hypothermia when the weather is cold. Even mildly cool temperatures
of 60° F (15.5° C) to 65° F (18.3° C) can trigger
the condition. Homes can have inadequate insulation, or people
with low incomes and little savings may keep temperatures in the
dangerous range as they try to keep heating bills down.
Some help is available. To improve insulation, some states fund
programs to help low income families “weatherize”
their homes. In addition, some low-income families may qualify
for help in paying their heating bills.
To find out where to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP), which may pay a portion of the energy bills
of eligible low-income persons, contact the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's
National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR can be
reached by e-mail at energyassistance@ncat.org
or toll-free at 1-866-674-6327. Please include your city, county
and state in your e-mail message.
Resource Links: (All links are off site)
|
Dept. of Health & Human Services
