Eating well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages will cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature.

Keep outdoor trips brief. Wear a hat, a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, sleeves that are snug at the wrist, mittens -- they’re warmer than gloves --, water-resistant coat and boots and several layers of loose-fitting clothing.

Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.

Stay dry; wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.

Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.

Source: DeKalb Fire Department

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