(Image source from: nbcdfw.com)

The recent storms that have been taking a toll on Texas, has risen the cases of patients suffering with Hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning in hospitals.

Because of the cold, people are looking for alternate ways of heat. This search for heat has proven to be more dangerous than it sounds.

Hypothermia is caused due to low and cold temperatures. People have been searching for unusual ways for heat and have been poisoned by carbon monoxide as a result.

By Wednesday, 13 children have been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. There have been a recorded 77 cases of hypothermia and eight new cases of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in the last 24 hours.

Unlike colder states where hypothermia is common, Texas is very unfamiliar on how to deal with the cold. The current temperature in Texas is around -2 degrees Celsius. This is the coldest temperature to ever be recorded in North Texas since 1949.

Doctors and health officials are sending out important messages on how to deal with the cold. During Hypothermia, the body will continuously shiver and the body temperature will rise, to generate heat.

Signs of Hypothermia in adults include shivering, exhaustion or feeling extremely tired and confusion, along with memory loss, fumbling hands, slurred speech and drowsiness.

In babies and children, signs of hypothermia include, reddening of the skin, cold feet and very low energy.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, avoid using up heat from gas stoves or the oven. Do not burn charcoal indoors and if you are using a generator, then do not use it inside your home home, basement, garage or less than 20 feet from a window, door or vent. Also, do not sit in your car for a long time with the engine running and the garage closed.

By Meena Atmakuri