Our bodies in subzero temperatures

We haven’t seen weather conditions like what we saw in the east Idaho region Friday for almost a decade. This type of cold can bring on many different problems. When we have temperatures that dip below freezing — let alone below zero — our bodies could go into shock if we don’t properly prepare for the cold conditions.

“In the summer we have very hot heat that can be detrimental to your health. And in the winter we have the extreme temperature changes, as well as the cold. And also, that is classified under environmental emergencies,” said Dr. Joseph Anderson, an emergency physician at Eastern Idaho Medical Center.

Negative 10 degrees on Saturday morning, and less than 10 degrees Saturday night. These are temperatures so cold they can affect our core body temperature and our physiologic states.

“Cold exposure can be extremely dangerous. It’s not uncommon to have, across the nation, several deaths every year from the cold and snowy conditions,” Anderson said.

Properly cover up your body, especially your toes, fingers, ears and nose. If we do not take extreme temperatures seriously, we could injure ourselves over something that could have been easily prevented.

The people most at risk are the very young and the very old. If elderly neighbors live alone, check on them, and see if their furnaces are working and their pathways are shoveled.

“If you’re going to be out for any length of time, say your skiing or you’re snowmobiling — those kind of things — that you add layers of clothing. Protective clothing, so that if you get warm you can peel off a simple layer and not have to take your whole jacket off,” Anderson said.

When buying winter clothing, look for thecold ratingg. Find coats, gloves and boots that have a zero-degree grade or a grade in the negatives.