Here are the precautions to be taken as cold wave likely to sweep Telangana

Extreme cold can cause hypothermia, injuries, and even death if precautions are not taken. The advisory urges that anyone noticing symptoms such as shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, or infants with cold skin, bright red color, and low energy should seek immediate medical attention.

Hyderabad: The health department on Wednesday has issued an advisory on cold wave/frost following a significant drop in minimum temperatures in Telangana.

Extreme cold could lead to hypothermia, injuries and even death if proper precautionary measures are not taken. If anybody spots a person with symptoms like shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness and infants with cold skin, bright red in color and very low in energy, they should get immediate medical attention, the advisory said.

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While waiting for medical attention, persons with hypothermia can be transferred to a warm room and their wet clothing, if any, be removed. The person’s body can be warmed through dry layers of blankets, cloths, towels or sheets and given warm drinks (not alcohol) to help increase body temperature.

When the body temperature of the individual with hypothermia increases, they should be kept dry, including their head and neck with warm blanket. A person with hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In that case, such persons should be handled gently and given emergency assistance immediately, the advisory said.

As a precaution from the cold wave, the advisory has urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to cold and not to ignore shivering, which is the first sign that the body is losing heat and it is time to immediately go indoors.

Individuals must avoid consuming alcohol, which reduces body temperature and increases the risk of hypothermia. People should also avoid giving fluids of any kind to persons who are fully alert. The advisory has also urged people to avoid burning candles, woods etc in closed unventilated rooms and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.