Avoid hypothermia by following a few tips on dressing well given by an emergency doctor. There is no need to feel you've got to stay indoors when the weather is cold. A brisk walk and exposure to sunlight will do you a lot of good. But it's important to dress properly if you want to avoid the ill-effects of cold weather. Just putting on a woolly scarf and a pair of gloves isn't necessarily the answer.
Dr Goerge Danke, professor of emergency medicine at the Medical College of Texas, offers the following tips. The secret lies in wearing three thin layers of clothes, rather than in one thick layer, he says. The innermost layer should be of a material that draws moisture from the skin - ideally, cotton. Then wear a warmth-trapping layer next to that, such as a woollen jersey. The third, outermost, layer needs to be made of a material that will create a good barrier against rain, snow and wind. A decent waterproof jacket or coat will do the job.
