Local health officials offer cold weather tips for elders and young ones

With this cold weather, we need to make sure we’re taking care of our loved ones.

We spoke to health officials for some tips on how to help two age groups. For our elders, we should constantly be checking up on them, making sure they are wearing warm clothes. 

We're told sometimes they use an additional heat source like turning on the oven. But this can lead to a fire. 

Another tip, if you are worried, you can even stay with them. 

For our young ones, if they are playing in the snow, limit their time outside. 

Health officials say it's fine to sled and enjoy the white stuff, but make sure to go back inside after a few minutes.

Jennifer Johnson, Public Information Officer for Wicomico County Health Department says, "The kids want to be outside for the snow so the parents need to make sure they come in and when they come you know throw those clothes in the dryer make sure when they go back out they have dry clothes on because if they have wet clothes, they're going to get colder that much faster."

Some health risks of being outside for too long with wet clothes are frost bite or hypothermia.

Make sure if kids are playing outside, they wear layers along with hats, gloves, and scarves.