Save Energy But Beware Of Hypothermia
For every degree you raise or lower your thermostat setting, you can see a difference of up to 3 percent in your energy usage.
But remember that cold temperatures increase the chances of hypothermia - a life-threatening condition that occurs when a body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Normally, hypothermia occurs to someone outdoors. But it also can occur to someone in a home with no heat or when the thermostat is turned down too low.
Even room temperatures as high as in the 60s may not be enough to protect some people.
Symptoms begin slowly. Low body temperature affects the brain, leaving a person unable to think clearly. The body becomes too cold to function normally.
Oftentimes, a victim may not realize what is happening. So, it is important that family and friends recognize and respond to warning signs.
Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, slurred speech and fumbling hands. Cold, pale skin and shivering also are symptoms.
Especially at risk are the elderly and those with heart disease and circulatory problems.
Please don’t let someone you love suffer. Make sure your loved ones are well fed, bundled up and that the temperature in their house is at a comfortable level.
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