As temperatures plummet to dangerously low levels in St. Lawrence County, the National Institute on Aging says it is important for everyone, especially older adults and people with chronic medical conditions, to prevent hypothermia.

Today will be cold with a high of -2 degrees. Wind chill values could be as low as – 30 during the day. Overnight temperatures are predicted to drop to -20, according to the Nation Weather Service. Snow is also possible.

Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature that may lead to many health problems, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.

Older people are especially vulnerable to hypothermia because their body's response to cold can be diminished by underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, and certain medications, including over-the-counter cold remedies. Hypothermia is defined as having a core body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and can occur when the outside environment gets too cold or the body's heat production decreases. Hypothermia can develop in older adults even after relatively short exposure to cold weather or a small drop in temperature.

Someone may be suffering from hypothermia if he or she has been exposed to low temperatures and shows one or more of the following signs: slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness or confusion, shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs, poor control over body movements or slow reactions, or a weak pulse. If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia, get them out of the cold if possible and call 911 for emergency help. Remove any wet clothes and cover the person with a coat or blanket.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some tips to help lessen some of the dangers:

• Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking may increase your risk for hypothermia.

• When going outside in the cold, wear a hat, scarf, and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through your head and hands. A hat is particularly important because a large portion of body heat can be lost through the head. Wear layers of warm loose clothing to help trap warm air between the layers.

• Make sure your home is warm enough. Set your thermostat to at least 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even mildly cool homes with temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees can lead to hypothermia in older people.

• To stay warm at home in cold weather, wear long underwear under your clothes, along with socks and slippers. Use a blanket or afghan to keep your legs and shoulders warm and wear a hat or cap indoors.

• Energy costs may discourage older people from keeping their houses warm enough in the winter. To help, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has funds to help low-income homeowners and renters meet home heating needs. Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local or state Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) agency or go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap.

About the National Institute on Aging: The NIA leads the federal government effort conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. For more information on research, aging, and health, go to www.nia.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

To order the fact sheet Hypothermia: A Cold Weather Hazard or the brochure Stay Safe in Cold Weather, call 1-800-222-2225. These and other free publications on healthy aging can be found at http://www.nia.nih.gov.