Safety tips ahead of extreme cold weather in western Massachusetts

have any snow on the ground but the temperatures are reaching the single digits yeah 22 news reporter CLA Overton has how you can prepare as we get deeper into winter bundling up you know being smart temperatures Tuesday Morning felt like they were in the single digits for much of Western Massachusetts and some towns may have felt even colder January is the coldest month of the year uh it's when we have the coldest average temperatures here in Western Massachusetts and it's also one of the windy months of the year in order to account for the cold it is necessary to dress properly you have to prepare I have my sweatshirt on heavy coat my mittens my hat the ear flaps can pull down if I need them temperatures in the teens and single digits can be very dangerous if you are not dressed properly or if you are planning to spend a prolonged period of time Outdoors the main risk is hypothermia and that's when our body temperature drops below 95 degrees hypothermia is caused by a number of different factors including being exposed to cold temperatures for a long period of time not wearing the right clothing poorly heated homes or when you get wet from rain sweat or water and are exposed to those cold temperatures symptoms include shivering slurred speech or even unconsciousness Dr Seth jimy says if you are experiencing these call 911 or get to the closest emergency room another dangerous condition from the cold is frostbite when your skin freezes it is more common in your hands and feet as they are farthest away from your heart and blood circulation it's really about prevention and not going out and being exposed for a prolonged period of times wearing appropriate clothing having appropriate um heat Source Dr jimy said to make sure you are checking on your elderly relatives neighbors and pets when temperatures get this cold working for you Claire Overton 22 News