GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Beginning Saturday night, temperatures in Northeast Wisconsin are expected to significantly fall. We’ll be seeing single digits, and even dipping below zero at some points. This bitter cold will be nothing to ignore.
“Dress in layers. You really wanna put on as many layers as you can to really help insulate and keep that heat in. Things like wool and fleece are really good fabrics to use,” Prevea Plymouth Health Center Family Medicine Physician Dr. Megan Butler said.
Dr. Butler said this cold is no joke. She suggests to avoid wearing wet clothes, and be sure to cover all of your skin and extremities. This is key to evading any serious medical issues.
“The cold, especially extreme cold weather like we’re going to be expecting can cause a lot of medical conditions. Two of the ones we worry about the most are hypothermia and frostbite,” Butler said.
Hypothermia is when your body temperature goes below normal. Signs and symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion and slurred speech.
Frostbite signs would be numbness and white or grayish skin. In severe cases, skin may blacken and blister.
“If you’re having any concerns about symptoms that could be caused by the cold… I would recommend that people seek medical attention,” Butler said.
To help combat the cold, places like the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay are having ‘warming center’ days beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21 for struggling families, and will take it day by day depending on the temperature. They typically do this when temperatures are around zero.
“When the temperatures are cold, we keep our building open and try to offer extended resources, really talking with them, seeing what additional things they might need,” Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay Director of Social Services Becky Darrow said.
Guests are allowed to get warm at the Salvation Army until 4:30 p.m. during warming center days. The Salvation Army’s biggest need right now is winter gear for adults.
“Blankets, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, hand warmers, foot warmers. Those things are critical right now,” Darrow said. “Donations are critical right now to help us make sure that the people we’re serving, stay safe.”
If you have any items you’d like to donate to the Salvation Army, you can drop them off between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, at their office. For folks looking for a place to warm up on Sundays, Darrow said Samaritan’s Heart Mission Church in Green Bay is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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