Ohio Valley—Doctors and forecasters advise caution in what's expected to be the coldest air the region has seen in a few years.

Doctors tell NEWS9 that those seemingly most susceptible to the cold, outdoor workers, may not in fact be most at risk.
"Actually, people in their own house, the elderly, they have less fat reserves in their skin, they're less insulated, they're on blood pressure medication and maybe don't have the ability to sense the early warning signs," said Dr. Bill Brocklehurst, emergency medicine physician at Wheeling Hospital.

If you absolutely have to be out in the cold, Brocklehurst said there are a few signs that indicate the onset of frostbite or hypothermia.

The first sign is pain, especially in the extremities. Second comes lethargy or reduced mental capacity.
Brocklehurst said both problems are exacerbated by alcohol, which numbs senses and dilates blood vessels.

If you notice this, call for help immediately.

"Get into a warm environment, taking off wet clothes, and actually soaking those extremities, we use to say tepid or warm water but nothing too hot that you wouldn't drink," said Brocklehurst.

A wind chill advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, because the "feels-like" temperature will be below minus 10 for long periods of time over the next 48 hours.

"You have to go back to January 2009 before we've seen a period of weather where we've had daytime highs below 15 degrees Fahrenheit for over two days," said Fred McMullen, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.

With wind chill values as low as minus 10 or even minus 20 possible over the next two days, how long can the human body take it?

"There's no magic number, but 10-15 minutes is probably long enough to be outside doing anything, to tell you the truth," said Brocklehurst.

In Ohio County, emergency officials tell NEWS9 that anyone in need of heated shelter can go to the Salvation Army on 16th street in Wheeling.

Stick with Severe Weather Team 9, NEWS9, and WTOV9.com as we monitor the cold temperatures.