(Photo By Flickr User Steve Baker)

As wind chills dip below zero, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood is offering safety tips for older people.

Harwood said the best way to avoid illness and injury in the dangerously low temperatures is to be prepared.

Cold Weather Tips For Elders:

* Stay indoors, or limit time outdoors if possible, and keep your indoors at least 65 degrees or warmer.

* If you are outdoors, layer up, and stay as dry as possible; wet clothing can chill your body and can quickly lead to hypothermia or even death

* Keep your vulnerable areas covered as well; that means wearing hats, gloves, scarves, and ear muffs.

* Consult your Doctor before deciding to shovel snow. When it’s cold outside, your heart works double time to keep you warm. Strenuous activities like shoveling snow may put too much strain on your heart, especially if you have heart disease, and can lead to sudden cardiac death. STOP shoveling if you start to have chest pain or shortness of breath.

* Use extreme caution when walking outdoors. If you use a walker or a cane, winterize it by replacing the rubber tips with new ones, or replace them with an ice pick attachment for added traction. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of death from injuries.

* Use caution when operating space heaters for additional heat, and NEVER use an oven or stove to heat your living space.

* Make frequent checks on your elderly neighbors, to ensure their safety.

(Information courtesy of week.com)