from the White Mountain Independent
In the United Sates the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid hypothermia-when the body gets too cold-during cold weather.
Hypothermia is defined as having a core body temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and can occur when the outside environment gets too cold or the body's heat production decreases. Older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia because their body's response to cold can be diminished by underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and some medicines, including over-the-counter cold remedies. Hypothermia can develop in older adults after relatively short exposure to cold weather or a small drop in temperature, because they may be less active and therefore generate less body heat.
If you suspect that someone is suffering from the cold and you have a thermometer available, take his or her temperature. If it's 96 F or lower, call 9-1-1 for immediate help. If you see someone who has been exposed to the cold and has the following symptoms: slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness or confusion, shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs, poor control over body movements or slow reactions and a weak pulse, he or she may be suffering from hypothermia... read more
