With winter coming, it’s important to be prepared for any possible problems, said Dr. Koye Oyerinde, a pediatrician at Minot Medical Plza.

Oyerinde said children tend to suffer from the cold even more than adults. He said they should be dressed in proper winter attire, including boots, mittens, zipped up coats and hats. People lose most of their body heat through the head.

Oyerinde said that advice holds true for adults as well.

He said the clinic sometimes ends up treating people who were caught outside during poor weather conditions and suffer from exposure because they were not prepared.

“If you go on a trip, make sure the car is winterized,” said Oyerinde. “Make sure the battery is checked out.”

Oyerinde said every car should include a winter survival kit with things like a flashlight with fully charged batteries, a survival blanket, snacks to munch on and a fully charged cell phone.”

“Make sure your gas (tank) is almost full at the time,” he said.

If they get stuck, Oyerinde said people should stay with their vehicle and wait for help. They should not set out on foot looking for assistance.

Oyerinde also advises that people be cautious when they are warming up a car during the winter. They need to make sure that the car’s exhaust pipe is not covered in snow and should never start a car in a closed garage. Doing either can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Oyerinde said people should make sure they are in condition to do physical activities outside, such as shoveling snow. People should warm up first and be well dressed. People who are in poor physical condition should ask friends or family to help rather than try to do it themselves.

If a child or adult is caught outside and gets too cold, Oyerinde said people should remove wet clothing and wrap the affected person in a blanket. Skin to skin contact can sometimes help warm them up while waiting for help to arrive. People should warm up slowly so they don’t injure the skin. In an emergency situation, a family should always seek medical attention, he said.