LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- During extremely cold weather, staying warm and safe can be a challenge.

Doctors said children and the elderly are most vulnerable to extreme temperatures and kids are more likely to lose heat.

Experts said to make sure windows are shut, heaters are on and carbon monoxide detectors are in place.

"Carbon monoxide exposure can be fatal and if left untreated, it absolutely will become fatal," UofL Health Emergency Medicine Dr. Jennifer McGowan said.

You also should have blankets and hand warmers ready in the car.

McGowan said she's seen a handful of people come in this week for carbon monoxide poisoning and with the drop in temperatures, she expects to see even more patients over the weekend.

"Especially if people are trying to use generators to heat up their homes," she said.

Carbon monoxide can sneak up on you from something as simple as a leak in the furnace, using a gas fireplace or keeping a vehicle running inside a closed garage.

"The biggest thing that can help someone with CMP is to expose them a whole lot of oxygen," a respiratory therapy manager for UofL Health said.

You also should have blankets and hand warmers ready in the car. Doctors recommend dressing kids in an extra layer of clothing, especially if they're waiting outside for the bus.

"Making sure that you have water proof boots and gloves and earpieces on is going to be important," Dr. Monalisa Tailor, with the Norton Medical Group, said.

Doctors said when clothing gets wet, there's a higher risk for hypothermia. Signs include numbness and tingling in fingers and toes and color changes.

The elderly may show signs of being confused or stumbling on their words. If you see a child with those symptoms, make sure they get warm.

Doctors believe kids may not speak up so ask them how they're doing in the cold.

Related Stories:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.