First MD Cold-Related Death Reported For 2023–2024 Winter

BALTIMORE, MD — The first Marylander to die in the 2023-2024 winter season as a result of cold weather was an elderly man who died in Baltimore County, the Maryland Department of Health reported Wednesday.

The man died as the result of cold-related illness, officials said. He was between 70 and 80 years old, state health officials said.

Temperatures dropped into the 30s overnight in the Baltimore area, should dip below freezing the next two nights, AccuWeather.comsaid.

To prevent illness, including frostbite, as temperatures drop, residents should limit their time outside and wear several layers of lightweight, insulated clothing. Insulate toes, fingers, ears, cheeks, and the tip of the nose.

Marylanders in need of warming centers should contact their local health department or to call 2-1-1 and provide their county location and ZIP code to get information about warming center locations, hours of operation, and available accommodations.

Residents should use caution while using various heat sources to stay warm to avoid fires, electrical injuries, burns, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Check heat sources to ensure they are safe prior to use, install carbon monoxide detectors, and never use an oven as a heat source for the home.

More resources to help stay safe in cold weather — including information about how to prevent cold-related illnesses, how to safely heat your home, and how to drive safely in winter weather—are available via the Office of Preparedness and Response’s Extreme Cold website.

Related:

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Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls more quickly than it can rise and dips below 95 degrees, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Because hypothermia can affect the brain, a person may not be aware that it is happening, and not take appropriate steps to prevent damage.

Warning Signs:

• Shivering, exhaustion
• Confusion, fumbling hands
• Memory loss, slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• For infants – bright red, cold skin, very low energy

What to do:

• If you notice any of the signs above, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, the situation is an emergency – get medical attention immediately.
• If the person is unconscious and does not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing, call 911.

Prior to medical care:

• Get victim into a warm room or shelter.
• Remove any wet clothing.
• Warm the center of the body first – chest, neck, head and groin – using electric blanket if available, or use skin-to-skin-contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels or sheets.
• Warm, nonalcoholic beverages can help increase body temperatures if the victim is conscious.

Frostbite: What It Is, What To Do

Frostbite happens when the body is exposed to cold and causes freezing of the skin and tissues underneath it.

Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas, typically the nose, ears, cheeks, fingers or toes. Signs of frostbite include redness or pain in any skin area; a white or grayish-yellow skin area; skin that feels unusually firm or waxy; and numbness.
What to do:

• Get into a warm area as soon as possible.
• Immerse the affected area in warm, but not hot, water.
• Warm the affected area using body heat.
• Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming.
• Do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes if at all possible.
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it in any fashion.

Extreme cold is especially dangerous for the very young, senior citizens, those without shelter or those live in a home that is poorly insulated and/or without heat.