Emergency Personnel Warn About Subzero Temperatures Across OK

The subzero wind chills are more than just cold, they're dangerous and you can be in trouble before you even realize it.

EMSA is sending out a warning. Cold temperatures can be deadly, and often times people under estimate how dangerous this cold air is.

"If I didn't have to go outside, I wouldn't," said Norman resident, Hicham Salim.

Wednesday's high only got up to 16 degrees. The wind chill was nearly 10 degrees below zero.

"Very cold, freezing cold," said Salim.

Overnight temperatures are expected to be in the single digits in parts of the state.

"It can be life threatening in a very short amount of time," said EMSA spokesperson, John Graham.

Graham says it doesn't take long for frost bite or even hypothermia to set in when temps dip this low.

"You're going to experience hypothermia probably as you're exposed to the frost bite."

During bitterly cold and snowy weather you can get hypothermia in as little as 30 minutes.

"You want to cover head to toe if you're going out, gloves, big warm gloves, mittens, stoking cap," Graham. "You want to be prepared for the weather no matter how long you're going to be out."

"I've got two caps, two jackets, two pairs of pants, two socks" said downtown parking lot attendant, Shelvon Holder.

Holder says he's been standing out in these temperatures long enough to know how to layer up. He's been braving the arctic air in this downtown parking lot all week.

"I tell myself, ‘I'm glad I'm not in Montana, or Minnesota, or Alaska.' So yeah, that's how I keep myself going."

Shelvon spends about eight hours a day standing outside.

"Got to get the rent paid, got to get lights paid. So I got to be out here," said Holder.

"It's been crazy this year so far, and hopefully it will get warmer soon," said Salim.

Also, don't forget about your pets. Bring them inside. EMSA also wants us to check on family members who may not have reliable sources of heat.