Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia this winter, says an emergency room expert.
Dr Jeffrey Desmond of the University of Michigan warns that the very old and the very young are vulnerable to hypothermia - chilling of the body - when temperatures drop. Hypothermia can develop without your even being aware of how cold you are. Symptoms include confusion, lethargy, slurred speech and shivering.

Hypothermia may set in either indoors or outdoors. If you like to exercise out of doors in the winter, take care - as you can lose additional heat through perspiration. Cold temperatures also bring a risk of frostbite, where the fingers, toes, nose and ears may become pale and numb - but not painful. Perspiration increases the risk of frostbite, so if you are exercising, dress in layers and remove/replace any that get sweaty. And, finally, it's not just in hot weather that you need to stay well hydrated during sporting activity. A lot of liquid can be lost when people exercise outside in the cold - so make sure you drink plenty, and take lots of breaks to warm up.