News in Brief Baby, it’s cold outside: 4 tips to help patients prevent hypothermia Colder temperatures can increase the risk of lower body temperatures. DO shares how patients can stay warm this winter. Jan. 14, 2016Thursday The DO Staff Contact The DO Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Even though parts of the country are enjoying a milder winter thanks to El Niño, colder temperatures can still occur. When they do, patients are at an increased risk of hypothermia. “If the body is not properly insulated, hypothermia can develop in a matter of hours,” Gregory McDonald, DO, a professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Try Dr. McDonald’s tips when talking to your patients about hypothermia prevention: Keep your head, face, neck and hands covered when outdoors in the cold. Avoid activities that cause profuse sweating. Dress in loose-fitting layers. Avoid alcohol when spending long periods outdoors. In the short term, alcohol makes the body feel warmer, but it also causes blood vessels to dilate, which makes heat loss occur more quickly. Previous articleStudents: Want to do research? Here’s how to get started. Next articleDO represents the AOA at a White House dialogue on men's health