ST. LOUIS — Dangerously cold wind chills and bitterly cold temperatures are hitting the Bi-state.
The winter season is prime time for illness, especially hypothermia, if you're exposed to the cold for a long period of time.
Health experts said it's important to bundle up and layer on warm and dry clothing if you have to go outside.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services wants to ensure people are prepared before heading outside.
When it comes to staying warm, cover areas that could be most affected, such as your fingers, ears, chin, cheeks, nose and toes. These areas are the most exposed to the elements.
If you're spending time outside, there are some signs to watch out for when it comes to frostbite and hypothermia. The first signs of frostbite are redness or pain in your skin, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness. Hypothermia often occurs when a person becomes wet. Some symptoms are shivering, exhaustion, confusion, slurred speech, or drowsiness.
Health experts explain hypothermia is not as common as frostbite but can be life-threatening.
The best way to protect yourself from hypothermia and frostbite is to stay inside and layer up.
Washington University Emergency Medicine Physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital Dr. Mark Levine said spending as little time outside as possible is best.
"If you're starting to have difficulty thinking or being a little confused, that's definitely an emergency," Levine said. "If your fingers and toes are starting to get very cold and numb and tingling, get out of the cold as quickly as possible. That's a time you want to go inside and warm them up. You don't necessarily need to rub them together or put them on the heater or anything like that. That could lead to worse consequences."
With either frostbite or hypothermia, Levine said do not use hot water to warm up. Use blankets to warm in moderation. Drinking warm beverages can also help raise your body temperature.
There are groups of people who are more susceptible to the cold than others.
Levine said, "Patients who have diabetes, patients who are elderly, patients who have asthma, those are also patients … kids of course, and pets as well. Those are the people who should really stay inside as much as possible and really have to watch a little bit more carefully that they're not exposed to these very cold temperatures."
Levine also wanted to remind people to not use ovens as heaters, as this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
You should also check on your neighbors who are most susceptible to the cold, and if you have pets, limit their time outdoors.
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