With wind chills expected to plummet as low as minus 35 degrees in the Chicago area Friday, residents are bracing for the life-threatening conditions outside and potentially at home going into the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to remain near zero until Saturday, and up to four inches of snow may blanket the city Saturday night. In response, Chicago Public School and several suburban school districts announced they would close Friday. The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Alder Planetarium all planned to close Friday. Meanwhile, a Saturday "Polar Plunge" was called off after the National Weather Service issued an extreme cold warning.
For those hunkering down for the cold snap, there are ways to prepare. Whether by taking proactive action at home or using an abundance of caution outside, here's how to best navigate the blast of Arctic air coming to the area.
‘Layer up and take this seriously’
Some of the most common cold-related emergency room visits center around frost-nip, frostbite and life-threatening cases of accidental hypothermia, according to medical experts.
While frost-nip — the temporary burning of exposed skin — is temporary, frostbite and hypothermia can cause permanent damage.
"Minutes matter and seconds count when it comes to cold-weather emergencies," said Dr. Nick Cozzi, an emergency room physician at Rush University Medical Center. "We have to layer up and take this seriously."
National weather service officials warn that Friday's conditions can lead to frostbite on exposed skin in five to 10 minutes. Accidental hypothermia can occur just as fast.
"Folks in Chicago are used to this type of cold, we embrace it. ... But we have to protect ourselves, elderly loved ones [and those] most vulnerable in our communities," Cozzi said.
The emergency room at Rush sees an uptick in patients in extremely cold conditions, especially unhoused patients, he said.
"A lot of those patients are those who don't have other options," Cozzi said. "We take care of them, we ensure that we can get them out of the cold to try and protect them because these are life-threatening temperatures that we're seeing."
Cozzi noted that an increased staffing plan is in place at Rush but has not yet been activated.
"It's something we're ready to pull the trigger on if we have to," Cozzi said. "We're prepared, should these disasters happen in whatever fashion, to handle a surge of patients if we need to."
‘Keep the water moving’
Mike Garritano, a plumber with ABC Plumbing, most commonly gets calls for frozen pipes during extremely cold weather. He says about 50% of the issues he gets called for are preventable and can be avoided by taking precautionary measures like increasing the home temperature and leaving tap water running.
"You should start warming your house up and getting it ready [in anticipation of extremely cold weather,]" Garritano said. "It's like a car, you don't just jump in and drive it away."
"The furnace is the heart of the home," Garritano added. "If you can't heat the house up on extremely cold days then you're going to have some problems."
Opening cabinets helps spread warm air to areas where pipes have a risk of freezing, according to Garritano. Letting tap water run allows water to keep moving through the pipe to avoid freezing.
"By letting the tap have a slow, steady stream, it keeps the water moving and doesn't allow it to sit there and get frozen," Garritano said. "Copper is a conductor, it's definitely gonna freeze [if water isn't running.]"
While homeowners "might pay a little extra on gas," the preventative measures can save over $1,000 in damages and hours of labor time.
"It costs you money now, but it'll cost you more in the long run," Garritano said.
Where to keep warm
Residents living in areas impacted by bitter cold conditions are encouraged to stay inside. Due to Friday's forecast, the Garfield Community Service Center — 10 S. Kedzie Ave. — will be open as a warming center overnight Thursday and remain open until 8 p.m. Friday, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The American Red Cross recommends using care with space heaters and fireplaces to prevent fires by keeping anything that could catch fire at least three feet from the heat.
Battery powered lights are preferred over candles and never use an oven to heat your home due to risks of carbon monoxide, according to the Red Cross.
For more tips on staying warm during extremely cold conditions, visit the city’s official website.
