Cold weather has set in the Marion area and doesn't look to be leaving anytime soon. Temperature forecasts for this weekend call for highs in the teens with overnight lows in the single digits. Severe cold like this can present several dangers to pets and people with the most severe concerns being hypothermia and frostbite.

Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, bright red and cold skin, fumbling hands, confusion or memory loss, very low energy, slurred speech, and dizziness.

If you suspect some is suffering from hypothermia, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95 degrees F, seek immediate medical attention.

If medical help is delayed, get the person into a warm area, replace wet clothing with dry clothing, lay the person in a flat position, and warm the center of body first (e.g., chest, neck) using an electric blanket or skin to skin contact under loose layers of blankets or other dry materials.

Also, give them warm, non-alcoholic beverages. Handle the person gently and do not massage or rub the person’s arms or legs.

Frostbite occurs when cold air freezes a part of the body. Frostbite usually affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Symptoms include Stinging, tingling, or aching in a skin area, followed by numbness; a white or grayish-yellow skin area; and/or skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.

If you suspect someone is suffering from frostbite, seek medical attention immediately and cover frostbitten areas with dry sterile gauze or soft, clean bandages.

Animals are more susceptible to problems because of their need to be outside more often than people.

The ASPCA is offering several tips to protect animals which must go outdoors:

• During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape
• Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice
• Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear
• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death
• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol
• Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape