Cold Weather Concerns - Hypothermia

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Cold weather can be risky for anyone, but especially for older people. Winter weather can lead to a temperature drop inside the body that can be deadly if the individual is not found quickly and treated properly. This lowered body temperature is called hypothermia. Nearly 700 Americans die of hypothermia each year. Those at greatest risk are older adults, who account for half of hypothermia-related deaths, and children.

Normal core body temperature can range between 98.9 F and 99.9 F. An internal body temperature of 95 F or lower signals hypothermia. It is a special problem for older people, who often have other illnesses or take medications that can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.

People who live in poorly heated homes risk getting accidental hypothermia when the weather is cold. Even mildly cool temperatures of 60° F (15.5° C) to 65° F (18.3° C) can trigger the condition. Homes can have inadequate insulation, or people with low incomes and little savings may keep temperatures in the dangerous range as they try to keep heating bills down.

Some help is available. To improve insulation, some states fund programs to help low income families “weatherize” their homes. In addition, some low-income families may qualify for help in paying their heating bills.

To find out where to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which may pay a portion of the energy bills of eligible low-income persons, contact the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR can be reached by e-mail at energyassistance@ncat.org or toll-free at 1-866-674-6327. Please include your city, county and state in your e-mail message.

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