An extreme cold warning takes effect on Friday, and wind chills across Illinois could dip as low as minus forty degrees.  That's nuts.

Officials are now warning residents to prepare now, just in case their heating system fails.  ComEd says they've been getting ready for this cold snap with 24/7 enhanced staffing, backup generators, and postponing all non-critical work so crews are ready to respond to outages quickly.

Reassuring, to say the least.

Losing heat in this kind of cold isn't just uncomfortable, it's life threatening.  Health experts warn that hypothermia can develop after prolonged exposure to cold, and that can start happening when indoor temperatures drop below 60 degrees.  That surprised me, honestly.  You don't have to be outside in a blizzard for your body to be at risk.  Symptoms look different on everyone, especially depending on your age.

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Infants and young children can become lethargic, cold to the touch, and have bright red skin.  Adults might experience intense shivers, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness.

If your heat goes out, please consider relocating for the time being.  There are so many warming centers around Illinois you can warm up at, too.  Leaving your house inf the middle of a deep freeze sounds terrible, but staying in an unsafe environment can be much worse.  Extreme cold doesn't mess around, doesn't discriminate, and will take you down with it if you let it.

Be prepared.  Find warming centers.  Keep your babies safe and warm.  This kind of cold is serious, and taking it seriously could make all the difference.