Some SIUC students walked a little bit faster to class and bundled up more, and others headed for the indoors for warmth and hot drinks because of the cold weather this week.

The halls of the Student Center were filled with shivering students as they raced for the nearest coffee and hot chocolate lines.

Winter weather guidelines can be exhaustive, but they need to be taken seriously when the high temperatures for this week are expected to be 20 degrees, Doc Horsley, American Meteorological Society meteorologist and assistant professor of SIUC Geography department, said.

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Horsley said people need to take the necessary precautions to prevent them from experiencing frostbite or hypothermia.

Layering is the best, Horsley said. A lot of students wear a big coat, but they wear a T-shirt underneath. That’s unhealthy and unsafe.

Carla Griffin, nursing supervisor from Jackson County Health Department, said there are certain signs people should be aware of if they think they are suffering from frostbite or hypothermia.

Symptoms of frostbite are cold, firm white patches, usually found on the face, nose, ears, toes and fingers, Griffin said. Hypothermia could cause mental confusion, drowsiness, slow respiration and can lead to cardiac arrest. People with these symptoms should seek medical attention.

Horsley said people could prevent frostbite and hypothermia by having their ears, nose, hands and toes dry and by keeping their clothes and body from getting wet.

Griffin also said people should avoid alcohol, especially when they are outdoors.

It may feel warm going down, but it can cause vessel constriction, which is where the blood vessels could constrict, Griffin said.

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Other tactics, such as heating a house and staying warm, could be dangerous if people are not careful, Griffin said.

People who keep their burner going and the oven door propped open have a greater chance for something to fall in and catch fire, she said. Space heaters can release carbon monoxide by giving off fumes, which could be lethal.

She said to prevent accidents from happening, maintain adequate temperature in the home.

Griffin also said the best way to stay warm is to wear a hat or hood, gloves, a thick coat, insulated shoes and plenty of clothes.