It’s December and the temperature is dropping. Time to shop, not only for Christmas gifts, but also for practical and fashionable hats with coordinating scarves and gloves.

This is my yearly ritual, one of the few that helps me survive the season. There is something about new winter accessories that make going out in the cold more tolerable.

Wearing these warm, and sometimes fluffy, winter sets is a particularly sound idea if you’re a senior. But don’t just take my word for it. Cheri Volta, paramedic for Capital Ambulance, has been singing the praises of hats for years.

“Absolutely, wear a hat when you go outside in cold weather,” she said. “It’s the best way to maintain body heat because as much as 40 percent of body heat is lost through the head and neck. Some people think wearing a heavy coat is enough, and it helps, but wear a hat to help maintain body heat.”

Volta recommends dressing in layers which can be removed, should a person become too warm.

“Watch for becoming overheated,” she said. “Sweating can whisk heat away from the body and lead to hypothermia. And older people are susceptible to hypothermia because their systems have started to slow down, they are less active, and it is more difficult to maintain body heat – which can be compounded by heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.

“Some medications, such as for asthma and high blood pressure, can constrict veins, reducing blood flow, making it harder for the body to stay warm,” she added.

Hypothermia can happen quickly and can be dangerous.

“It’s true. Hypothermia can happen very quickly – before an elderly person even realizes it,” said Volta. “A drop in body temperature to 95 degrees is all it takes for symptoms to begin. Things to watch for include confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech, which are the first signs of hypothermia.

“In fact, caregivers need to be especially aware because sometimes these symptoms are mistaken for the natural signs of aging, slight dementia or drug side effects when in reality, hypothermia could be setting in,” she said.

Frostbite is another problem for everyone, but especially the elderly. Many of the hypothermia reasons apply. As bodies age and slow down, they simply can’t work as hard to maintain body heat. Those who spend time outdoors, either shoveling the steps or taking a winter walk, can get frostbite if certain precautions are not taken.

Be sure to stay covered up as much as possible. Exposed areas of the face, such as cheeks, nose, chin, forehead and ears are in particular danger, as well as wrists, hands and feet.

Frostbitten skin is whitish and stiff and will feel numb rather than painful. If you detect signs of frostbite, get inside quickly and seek medical attention.

But prevention is still the best medicine. And with the holidays coming up, it is the perfect time to find just the right winter accessory set to keep your loved ones toasty and safe from the elements. And based on recent shopping trips, dressing warmly has never looked better.

A very special thank you to Clear Channel Radio Group, specifically WVOM and WABI AM 910, for expanding Senior Talk to two hours on Nov. 21. This live segment allowed the Eastern Agency on Aging staff to answer questions from listeners who called in with concerns about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

WABI TV5 also deserves a big thank you for their “Medicare Monday” segments, which air Mondays during the noon news.

Support from local media is vital if we here at EAA are to successfully “get the word out” and reach all of the 50,000 Medicare beneficiaries in our four-county service area.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on www.eaaa.org.