By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Bitter cold and dangerous wind chills across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas bring dangers to anyone daring to get out.
Doniphan County Health Clinic Supervisor Sheryl Pierce says there are a couple of major dangers with the cold, including hypothermia.
"Of course, frostbite can also happen in extreme cold weathers, especially in a car breakdown, hopefully everybody will keep their cell phones charged if you are traveling distances during this holiday time," Pierce says. "Let family members know when you're going and what time they should expect you to arrive."
Pierce says if you travel long distances to be careful on ice packed roads. She encourages people to wear multiple light layers of clothing, as well as mittens, hats, and scarves.
Clinic Supervisor at the Buchanan County Health Department Holly Leslie says besides those dangers of hypothermia and frostbite, if you don't dress warm enough, you could also harm your own immune system
"So being out in the cold for long periods of times really affects that immune system, so I'm sure your parents have always said if you go outside with your hair wet, you're going catch pneumonia, that's not really how it works but it's the same kind of principal," Leslie tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "If you're out in a cold environment it lowers your immune system which makes you more susceptible to pneumonia or viruses."
While it's recommended you stay home as much as possible, the two local health department supervisors say if you have to get out, be sure to dress warm.
Leslie says you should be sure to follow the proper precautions if you have to get out in the cold
"If you have coats bundle up, gloves are especially important, cover your face with masks, scarves, hats, those kinds of things if you have them," Leslie says.
Doniphan County Clinic Supervisor Sheryl Pierce says a hat is especially important as the head is very susceptible to the cold
"You lose a lot of heat out of your head so wearing a hat, of course mittens, they're better then gloves but if you must wear gloves, but the mittens seem to work a little better," Pierce points out.
Both Pierce and Leslie remind everyone of the dangers of the cold, the major health concerns being hypothermia and frostbite