As southeast Iowa experiences another round of dangerously cold temperatures, residents are encouraged to stay indoors. 

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen says that when spending any time outside, residents should try to limit their time outdoors to intervals of 15 minutes with no one spending more than 30 minutes outside at one time. She adds that residents should avoid exerting themselves, if possible, as sweating in temperatures this low can be dangerous, “Another important thing is if you are out in the cold and exerting yourself, once you start sweating your [body] temperature will decrease more rapidly. So if you are sweating, go inside and take a break. Cool down because if you’re hot and sweaty, it’s gonna be even worse.”

According to the National Weather Service, frostbite can set in on exposed skin after 30 minutes or less. Signs of frostbite include numbness, white or gray/yellow skin and firm or waxy skin. Frostbite can contribute to getting hypothermia, which occurs when your body temperature drops below 96 degrees. Warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, and fumbling hands. Reisen reminds all residents that when warming up after being affected by extreme cold, the process should be slow and to not expose yourself or the affected person to high amounts of heat. She says that covering your most vulnerable areas such as your fingers, toes, nose and ears and wearing layers to help trap your body heat are simple ways to help fight off winter weather.