Winter storms in Newark, New Jersey, can create more than transportation problems and temporary inconveniences. Heavy snow, freezing temperatures, icy sidewalks, power outages, blocked roads, and prolonged periods indoors can create serious health risks for residents of all ages. Some dangers are obvious, such as slipping on ice or becoming extremely cold. Others are less visible, including carbon monoxide poisoning, medication interruptions, and cardiovascular strain caused by strenuous snow removal.

For Newark residents, preparation should begin before a major storm arrives. Knowing when to stay indoors, how to recognize cold-related illness, and how to respond when normal access to pharmacies, doctors, or hospitals is disrupted can make a significant difference. If you have a heart condition, check the Newark winter storm warning today before deciding whether to shovel or travel. During dangerous winter conditions, avoiding unnecessary outdoor activity is often an important part of protecting your health.

Why Winter Storms Can Create Health Emergencies

A major winter storm can affect several parts of the health-care system at once. Roads may become difficult to navigate, public transportation can experience delays, and people may hesitate to leave their homes even when medical attention is necessary. Power failures can also affect heating systems, medical equipment, refrigeration for certain medications, and communication devices.

Cold weather itself places additional demands on the body. People may breathe colder air, experience increased physical exertion while walking through snow, or spend extended periods outside clearing sidewalks and vehicles. Older adults, infants, people with chronic medical conditions, people with limited mobility, and those without reliable heating may face particularly serious risks.

The safest approach is to identify potential problems before the storm rather than waiting until conditions become dangerous.

Snow Shoveling and the Risk of Heart Attack

Snow shoveling is strenuous physical work, particularly when snow is deep, wet, or packed with ice. The combination of intense exertion and cold temperatures can put additional stress on the cardiovascular system. People who are normally sedentary may suddenly perform demanding physical activity for an extended period without realizing how hard their heart and muscles are working.

People with known heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of stroke, or other cardiovascular risk factors should speak with their health-care provider about safe snow-removal practices. Older adults should also consider asking someone else to handle heavy snow whenever possible.

If shoveling is necessary, avoid trying to clear a large area all at once. Take frequent breaks, use proper equipment, and stop immediately if you develop chest pressure, chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, faintness, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw. These symptoms can indicate a medical emergency.

Do not assume that feeling physically strong means heavy snow removal is safe. Cold temperatures combined with sudden exertion can be challenging even for people who exercise regularly. During severe conditions, arranging for a neighbor, family member, professional snow-removal service, or property manager to handle the work may be safer than taking the risk yourself.

Recognizing Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Although it is associated with very cold weather, it can also develop when a person becomes wet, exhausted, or exposed to cool temperatures for a prolonged period.

Early symptoms may include shivering, fatigue, poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating. As hypothermia becomes more serious, a person may develop confusion, memory problems, fumbling hands, slurred speech, unusual drowsiness, or a loss of normal shivering.

A person with suspected hypothermia should be moved into a warm environment as quickly as possible. Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry layers or blankets. Focus on warming the center of the body rather than aggressively heating cold hands and feet. Warm, nonalcoholic drinks may be appropriate for an alert person who can swallow safely.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency. A body temperature below 95°F requires immediate medical attention. A severely hypothermic person may become unconscious and may appear not to be breathing normally. Emergency assistance should be requested immediately, and the person should be handled gently.

Frostbite: Symptoms and Proper Treatment

Frostbite happens when body tissue freezes. Fingers, toes, ears, cheeks, nose, and chin are particularly vulnerable because these areas can lose heat quickly during prolonged cold exposure.

Early frostbite may cause redness or pain. As the injury progresses, the affected skin can become numb and appear white, grayish-yellow, or unusually firm and waxy. Because numbness can occur, a person may not realize how severe the injury is.

The first step is to get out of the cold and protect the affected area from further exposure. Seek medical attention, particularly when the affected skin is deeply discolored, hard, numb, blistered, or extensively involved.

If immediate medical care is unavailable and the person has no signs of hypothermia, frostbitten tissue can be warmed in warm—not hot—water. The water should feel comfortably warm to unaffected skin. Do not rub or massage frostbitten tissue, and never rub it with snow. Do not place numb skin directly against a radiator, fireplace, heating pad, stove, or other intense heat source because burns can occur without the person realizing it.