7 Die From Hypothermia During Freezing Weather In OKC

The freezing overnight temperatures continue, and EMSA medics are warning people to be aware of the risk of hypothermia.

Wednesday, December 11th 2013, 10:26 pm

By: News 9


The freezing overnight temperatures continue, and EMSA medics are warning people to be aware of the risk of hypothermia.

Wednesday morning, a 66-year-old man was found nearly frozen to death in southwest Oklahoma City. 

So far, seven people have died from hypothermia in the metro. EMSA paramedics say most of the time, people just underestimate how cold it really is.

Paramedics rotate through the EMSA operations facility off S. Walker and prepare ambulances for what could be a long day of work. Some days there are more than 45 EMSA trucks on the road at once.

"The people without shelter, those are the people that really worry us," said EMSA Support Services Manager Tony McCarty.

The concern of hypothermia has medics sending out a stern warning for those out in the elements and those with nowhere to go.

"What worries us is some of the elderly, maybe with dementia," said McCarty. "These people get out there and may not realize how bad it is, may be outside unprepared."

That could have been the case for 66-year-old John Stamper. Police say he went missing Tuesday from a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood and somehow ended up on the far southwest side of the city.

Wednesday morning, he was found outside his pick-up, nearly frozen to death by a cow pasture near S.W. 179th and Penn.

12/11/2013 Related Story: Man Found In SW OKC Pasture Now In Critical Condition

"You can lose 30 to 40 percent of your body temperature through your skin and particularly your head," said McCarty.

"We've seen an average of an extra 150, to 170 additional people per night since this weather hit," said Tom Jones, Pres./CEO of the City Rescue Mission.

Over at the Oklahoma City Rescue Mission, they're seeing record numbers of overnight visitors who don't have a home.

"This has been very very cold, very very dangerous with loss of life already from some of the homeless people that choose not to come in," Jones said.

"It's life or death," said McCarty.

Stamper is listed in critical condition at OU Medical Center. Police say he recently had a quadruple bypass and has high blood pressure.

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