For those bracing against the biting chill slated to sweep through Denver, reprieve comes in the solid walls and warm air of local recreation centers. As temperatures dive, prompting concerns over frostbite and hypothermia, these centers have opened their doors to serve as daytime warming spaces. According to the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment, all recreation facilities in operation will be accessible during regular business hours on Feb. 12.
The DDPHE lays out some sage advice for Denverites to keep the cold at bay and mitigate risks, bundle up in layers if you must step outside but try to limit your exposure to the unforgiving elements. They warn, unwaveringly, of the hazards of using a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, an invisible and silent killer. For signs of frostbite and hypothermia, seek medical attention immediately, frostbite can render skin white or grayish-yellow whereas hypothermia might creep in with shivers and confusion, plunging body temperature dangerously low.
Not to be forgotten in the brutal cold are Denver’s animal residents. Shelter from the chill is as crucial for our canine and feline companions as it is for their human counterparts. Denver Animal Protection advocates for pets to be kept indoors when temperatures plummet. Any dogs that must remain outside should have adequate shelter against the cold a requirement backed by city ordinance with the threat of hefty fines or jail time for failing to provide it. Concerned citizens who witness any animals in peril are urged to call the Denver Animal Protection Dispatch at 720-913-2080.
