Single digit temperatures are predicted for the next several days in southeast Iowa, which can pose serious health hazards for those who spend time outside.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen says prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia, which is when your body temperature dips below 96 degrees fahrenheit. To avoid hypothermia, Reisen advises to go to a warm room and warm the center of the body first, keeping dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, “If you get to the point where you’re shivering, you get confused, you can’t function quite right, go lay down, get warm, and let somebody know that you’re not feeling good. And if it gets worse, call 911 right away.”

Other signs of hypothermia include exhaustion, fumbling hands, and slurred speech. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes, with signs of numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, and firm or waxy skin. Reisen says if your extremities feel numb to soak in warm water, and do not massage those extremities or use a heating pad. If you must travel, Reisen reminds motorists to be equipped with a survival kit that includes jumper cables, a flashlight, food, water, blankets, and more.