How to stay safe during extreme winter cold in Chicago

When temperatures drop near zero and wind chills plunge, conditions can become life-threatening both outdoors and at home. Here’s what Chicagoans should know when extreme weather brings a dangerous cold to the region.

Why doctors say ‘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 subzero conditions can lead to frostbite on exposed skin in five to 10 minutes. Accidental hypothermia can occur just as fast.

What to do if you must go outside:

• Limit time spent outdoors 
• Dress in multiple, loose layers to help retain heat  
• Cover as much exposed skin as possible including head, face, ears and hands 
• Pay attention to numbness, tingling or pain – these symptoms can signal frostbite; slurred speech, stumbling, disorientation, drowsiness, fatigue or uncontrollable shivering can signal hypothermia 
• Avoid alcohol, which lowers core body temperature and increases heat loss through the skin

How to avoid frozen pipes

Mike Garritano, a plumber with ABC Plumbing, 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 balk at the cost, 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.

What to do: 

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees during extreme cold and keep it there overnight 
• Run a slow, steady trickle of water from a faucet farthest from the main source  
• Open cabinet doors under sinks or where pipes feed appliances to allow warm air to circulate 
• Shut off the water at the main source if your pipes freeze. Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame; call a plumber instead 

Where to go if you can’t stay warm

Anyone seeking shelter placement can call 311. The emergency room at Rush sees an uptick in patients in extremely cold conditions, especially unhoused patients. “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,” Dr. Nick Cozzi said.

Chicago operates six warming centers when temperatures dip below 32 degrees; these centers are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Garfield Community Service Center
  10 S. Kedzie Ave.; 312-746-5400
• Englewood Community Service Center
  1140 W. 79th St.; 312-747-0200
• Martin Luther King Community Service Center
  4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.; 312-747-2300 
• North Area Community Service Center
  845 W. Wilson Ave.; 312-744-2580
• South Chicago Community Service Center
  8650 S. Commercial Ave.; 312-747-0500
• Trina Davila Community Service Center
  4312 W. North Ave.; 312-744-2014

Other facilities, such as libraries and police stations, also serve as warming centers and some of these stay open later than the city’s official warming centers. Here is the city’s map of facilities that serve temporarily as warming centers during periods of extreme cold:

Use space heaters and fireplaces safely

The American Red Cross recommends exercising caution with space heaters and other sources of spot heat:

• Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that could catch fire
• Use battery powered lights instead of candles 
• Never use an oven to heat your home 
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to verify they are working 

For more tips on staying safe during extremely cold conditions, visit the city’s winter preparedness tip sheet.