With the wind chills expected to hit below zero, the elderly and the young need to take extra precautions.
"Elderly people aren’t able to make as much body energy like other people can, and the children have so much more surface area like a bigger head to lose the heat through that they can’t maintain themselves," explained Dr. Vicki Whitacre, of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department.
Two other groups of people that should also take extra precautions are the mentally ill and people with drug and alcohol problems.
"People who have gotten drunk and passed out in cold weather have been found dead. It’s very important if you have a mentally ill relative, or you know someone that’s using drugs or alcohol, that you check on them."
Whitacre recommends limiting the time you spend outside and says the colder it gets, the more time you should spend inside. She also says to make sure you wear multiple layers and bundle up with mittens and scarves, and to make sure you cover your head and ears. If you start to get too cold or notice your ears, hands, or face getting red, head indoors.
For an extreme cold prevention guide, you can go to the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department’s website at www.zmchd.org.