The cold can be a sneaky and deadly threat

During a recent record cold spell, Melanie DiVasta, a 47 year old local woman died while walking a short distance from while spending time with friends out on the town. Her body was found on a park bench. The temperature was as low as -10F or -23C with a strong wind. In January of 2019 22 year old Ali Gombo was found dead outside a home in Rochester, Minnesota under similar circumstances. Apparently, he had been dropped off at that location by his friends but the home was locked and he did not have a key to get in.

So yes, the cold can be a real threat and should not be ignored, even in "civilized" human settlements. Us humans can survive cold temperatures only through artificial adaptations. Hence yes, we should dress appropriately and plan for scenarios we may encounter. I was trying to find a table listing survival times for cold air temperatures for a naked human but could not, somehow. There's plenty of the ones for water survival times - which by the way is not very hopeful once the temperature drops below about -10C - but not for the air. But, be that as it may, typically what occurs when the cold is starting to overwhelm your body, drowsiness, indifference and sleepiness set in. And that is extremely dangerous - because that may be the last time you ever fall asleep alive. This is likely how both DiVasta and Gombo met their end.

I wonder if social conventions have a role to play in situations of this kind, especially when they occur in an urban environment. For example, it is late at night, you are feeling cold and night yet feel it would be wrong to knock on a door or break through a store front to survive. I think that may be a factor. Hence I would say, people facing an extreme situation - and getting hypothermia without a proper escape plan certainly does qualify as one - have every right to be somewhat impolite to survive. Chances are people will understand - and, after all, it is best to be alive and have to apologize than to end up polite but dead.

As usual, do your own research, draw your own conclusions, use your own brain. And stay safe.

References

Boston woman dies while trying to walk home amid arctic blast
Christopher Gavin, Boston.com, 7 February 2023

How long can a person survive in sub-zero temperatures?
CBS News, 29 January 2019

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