Physicians are sending the alert to the two most vulnerable age groups: the very young and the elderly.
"The typical scenario is an elderly family member who lives alone and fell the night before and has been unable to get up throughout the course of the night and has been on a cold hard floor,” said Jody Henson, M.D.
Dr. Henson, with Scott and White, says the little ones are also a concern. Come Thursday, a simple long-sleeved shirt won't be enough protection against the cold.
"Most of our kids are coming to school in warm clothes, just not for teens and 20s,” Teravista Elementary Principal Kristina Snow said.
Principal Kristina Snow is planning ahead to make sure students are safe from the chill no matter what they wear.
"We don't normally open our doors until 7:15 but we're going to make special accommodations for the next two days to have at least part of the building open so the children can come inside out of the elements,” Snow said.
Once the little ones are inside, it's likely they'll be staying there all day, which means no recess.
"We're probably not going to be going out for the next two days with the forecast as cold as it's going to be. We will be staying inside and staying warm," she said.
If your child can't avoid the elements going to and from school, Dr. Henson says top off their coat and gloves with a hat.
"Especially infants and young children have a larger head proportional to their body, so you can lose a lot of heat through your head, so warm hats are very important,” she said.
Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, numbness, a lack of interest or poor judgment, slurred speech and unsteadiness. Late symptoms include stiff muscles, slow pulse, weakness, confusion, and a loss of consciousness.
