First MD Cold-Related Deaths Reported To Start 2024–2025 Winter

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland state health officials on Tuesday announced the first cold-related deaths of the 2024-25 winter season and offered tips for residents to stay safe.

According to a news release from the Maryland Department of Health, three men have died from cold-related illnesses so far this year. Two of the victims were in their 60s and the other was in his 30s.

Two of the deaths occurred in Baltimore City and one in Baltimore County, officials said. The first cold-reported death occurred on Nov. 23, while the other two were reported on Dec. 2.

"To prevent the onset of cold-related illness, including frostbite, Marylanders should avoid exposure to cold weather, both by limiting time outside and by wearing several layers of lightweight, insulated clothing. Insulate toes, fingers, ears, cheeks, and the tip of the nose," health officials said in a statement.

Marylanders in need of warming centers or overnight shelters are encouraged to contact their local health department or call 211 and provide their county location and ZIP code to receive information about locations, hours of operation, and available accommodations.

According to health officials, Marylanders should also use caution while using various heat sources to stay warm.

"Some heating sources can cause fires, electrical injuries, burns, or carbon monoxide poisoning if not installed, operated, and maintained properly," officials said. "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 cold-related illness surveillance reports, information about how to prevent cold-related illnesses, how to safely heat your home, and how to drive safely in winter weather — are available on the Office of Preparedness and Response’s Extreme Cold website.

Hypothermia: What It Is, What To Do

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 the 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.