With frigid temperatures in the area, and more to come throughout the winter, it’s important to be prepared for health concerns that can come from them.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says that one of the main things that individuals need to be aware of with temperatures that are below freezing is hypothermia. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio some things that can happen due to hypothermia.

“When hypothermia sets in, some of the things that we worry about are heart attacks and strokes, breathing issues. We worry about our blood not circulating like it should, which can cause hypoxia, which is lack of oxygen.”

Arber mentions that temperatures don’t have to be very cold for hypothermia to occur though, as the condition can set in when people sweat at higher freezing temperatures if someone doesn’t dress properly for the cold. He adds that one way to prevent getting hypothermia, is to simply not go outside when temperatures are below freezing, and if you need to go outside, make sure you’re dressed appropriately, and maybe include an extra layer or two to provide some extra insulation.