While the fall season is a great time to enjoy the fun of Halloween, it’s most important to remember safety comes first.
Temperatures become very low toward the end of October, especially in Northern Idaho. As temperatures drop into the 40s later this month, according to AccuWeather, it is important to remember to dress warm. Hypothermia is dangerously often overlooked during Halloween and at parties.
Halloweekend can be a fun and exciting time whether you dress up and party or stay at home and eat a bag of candy.
Halloween is full of fun times, but it is crucial to stay safe while having a blast.
There may be a tendency to not dress warm during the holiday, but it is good to keep in mind what can happen when temperatures drop.
The possibility for hypothermia drastically heightens when mixed with unusually cold weather, small costumes and alcohol.
People avoid wearing warm clothes when going to parties during Halloween because of all sorts of excuses. It may only be a short walk to where they are going, the jacket will ruin their outfit by covering it up or when they get to the party they don’t want to have to carry the jacket around all night, because it gets hot inside. These are all common excuses that lead to getting cold and becoming hypothermic. Hypothermia can become an issue quicker than you might expect.
Even though there are all these excuses, the risk is not worth the outcome. Hypothermia leads to a night of worry and panic that rids the holiday of all the fun.
While we cannot control other’s actions, looking for signs of hypothermia, and learning how to prevent and treat it can help a lot during this season.
Signs of hypothermia include: shivering, slurred speech or mumbling, shallow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, drowsiness and confusion. Loss of consciousness, and red or cold skin are also factors, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic states hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
If someone is suffering from hypothermia call 911, get them inside as soon as possible and get them into dry clothes and blankets. Any jarring movements can trigger dangerous, irregular heartbeats.
Wearing clothing that helps trap heat to the body is one of the best ways to stay warm while hopping from party to party or bar to bar. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is best to make sure your clothing is driest and warmest at the hands and feet.
Hypothermia is a problem during cold months, but Halloween can often bring out the worst. Staying warm is as simple as wearing a jacket outside and taking it off inside. Mitigating hypothermia is as simple as preparing and knowing the signs.
If we are all educated, we can have fun while being smart and safe.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected]