Snow or not, MetLife Stadium will be cold on Super Bowl Sunday.
Extended exposure to frigid, outdoor cold temperatures can be hazardous to your health if you do not dress appropriately. Vascular medicine experts Dr. Peter Faries, Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, and Dr. Rami Tadros, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery in the Department of Surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital, urge all Super Bowl fans this year to take the following precautions seriously to maintain their body’s core temperature above 95 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the potential for dangerous hypothermia and frostbite:
- Remember to dress in layers. Wear thermal clothing — ideally thermals made out of water-wicking and breathable material to maintain your body’s temperature.
- Hands, feet and head should be covered at all times. This allows your blood to stay warm which helps your body’s core remain warm.
- Make sure to wear gloves, warm socks, waterproof boots and a hat.
- Keep moving your muscles regularly during the game to generate heat.
- In addition, try using hand warmer products to stay even warmer.
- Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol may make your skin flushed and temporarily make you feel warmer short-term, but actually alcohol can interrupt your body’s ability to maintain its core temperature.
- Beware if your fingers or toes start to feel painful from extended cold weather exposure or start to turn purple in color. These are early warming signs of possible frostbite. Seek warmer shelter indoors from the cold and rub your skin to increase blood flow to the affected areas. If your skin color isn’t restored seek medical attention as soon as possible.
