OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — EMSA medics have seen an increase in responses to medical emergency calls in the Oklahoma City area on Thursday due to the continuous winter weather conditions.
Crews have responded to five calls relating to cold exposure, four of those patients were taken to nearby hospitals. First responders also responded to 33 traffic accidents on Thursday, with 10 patients having to be transported to local hospitals.
EMSA says these numbers have more than doubled compared to traffic accidents that happen during regular weather conditions.
Residents are advised to take proper precautions when it comes to the cold winter weather, especially when spending time outdoors.
When outside, it is always best to dress accordingly to the cold conditions. Slips and falls can occur at any time, whether it’s leaving home, at work, or even shopping.
Also, knowing the signs and symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite is very important.
According to EMSA, hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, which causes dangerously low body temperatures. The normal body temperature sits around 98.6 F, and hypothermia can happen when a person's body temperature goes below 95 F.
Signs of hypothermia include:
Oklahoma does see days where temperatures go below freezing, and the risk of frostbite can occur, especially when a person is not dressed for the proper sub-freezing temperatures.
Frostbite risk increases when temperatures fall below five degrees, and it only takes less than 15 minutes for it to set in. Areas of the body where frostbite is more likely to occur include fingers, toes, facial features, and ears.
Signs of frostbite include:
Proper clothing to wear during the cold weather is a heavy coat, hat, gloves, several layers of clothing, and warm boots or shoes that have traction.
