By Amy Harris

Most Mainers, no matter how long they’ve lived in the state, will tell you this year’s winter has been one of the harshest they can remember. Ice storms, blizzards, and long stretches of sub-zero temperatures have not only been unpleasant—they’ve been dangerous, even deadly. Since 2019, weather-related deaths are up 20%, and injuries have increased by 120%, according to the non-profit National Safety Council, which tracks weather-related injuries and fatalities. So far, for winter 2025–2026, the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention (ME CDC) reports that the highest number of emergency room visits for cold-related illnesses—83 visits—occurred between February 1–6.

For new Mainers, learning how to stay healthy, safe, and warm during the winter months can be a matter of life and death. Maryam Ghulam Hassan, originally from Afghanistan, says that her first Maine winter was the hardest. “We did not have a car, and getting around during the snowy and icy winter was extremely hard. The frozen streets made walking and commuting challenging and, at times, unsafe. The intense cold also made it easier to get sick, especially during the long winter months.”

Hassan’s experience highlights some of the many health risks posed by cold winter weather, even to the most seasoned Mainers. Slip-and-fall injuries on snowy and icy surfaces, as well as car accidents during dangerous driving conditions, are common once snow and ice accumulate. Some strategies for avoiding sprains, fractures, and head injuries, typically seen in emergency rooms during and after winter storms, include the following:

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  • Avoid traveling and stay home until roads and walkways are cleared and de-iced.
  • When going outside, wear sturdy, waterproof footwear with non-slip treads for good traction.
  • Only drive in snow or icy conditions after gaining sufficient experience, use public transportation, or ride with a more experienced driver.

Beyond ice- and snow-related injuries, exposure to extremely cold temperatures puts the human body under stress—known as cold stress. Cold stress does not affect everyone equally. People over the age of 75 are at the highest risk, as their bodies lose heat faster and they often live alone or have limited access to warm shelter. Getting cold is also more dangerous for infants and people with chronic heart or lung conditions. According to the ME CDC, people who lack shelter, work outdoors, or live in homes with inadequate heating are most at risk for cold-related injuries and illnesses.

The American Heart Association warns that prolonged cold stress can cause frostbite and hypothermia, a condition in which internal body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Even milder temperatures can cause hypothermia if the body becomes chilled by rain, sweat, or exposure to cold water. The National Weather Service lists warning signs of hypothermia as confusion, stiff muscles, difficulty speaking, and shivering. Babies suffering hypothermia may have red, bright skin, and very low energy.

People lose two-thirds of their body heat as it radiates from warmer body surfaces to colder surroundings. Protecting exposed skin—especially the head—with a warm hat, neck covering, and gloves or mittens, helps slow heat loss, lowering the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Dressing in layers, with a windproof outer layer and inner insulating layers made of synthetic fabrics or wool (not cotton), further reduces the risk.

Sweating, which cools the body in hot weather, can be dangerous in cold temperatures, particularly for people who work outdoors. Sweat on the skin or soaked into clothing accelerates heat loss. Amelia Lyons, CEO of the Maine Mobile Health Program (MHP), worries about seasonal farm and aquaculture workers in Maine. “The folks working in the wreath industry who are tipping, getting the tips off of the ends of branches to make the wreaths—that work is outdoors and very cold. And then even many of the factories are still very cold.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) instructs employers to protect employees from cold stress by scheduling frequent short breaks in warm, dry areas to allow the body to warm up, scheduling work during the warmest part of the day, working in pairs to monitor for symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite, providing warm, sweet beverages, offering high-carbohydrate snacks to help generate body heat, instructing workers to avoid touching cold metal or wet surfaces with bare skin, and using engineering controls such as radiant heaters. New Mainers, regardless of citizenship status, may hesitate to ask for these protections.

In addition to hypothermia and frostbite, extreme cold can affect the heart, brain, and other vital organs. Cold air can irritate the lungs, worsening symptoms for people with asthma or other lung conditions. Cold-related increases in blood pressure pose risks for people with hypertension or heart disease, raising the chances of heart attack or stroke. Cold temperatures also thicken blood, making it more likely to form clots.

Another silent but deadly danger during cold weather is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Poisoning risk increases in winter because furnaces, fireplaces, generators, and vehicles produce carbon monoxide, and snow and ice can block vents, trapping the gas indoors. Faulty or poorly maintained fuel-burning appliances, as well as indoor use of generators or grills, can produce dangerous levels.

Brett Brockway, co-owner of Standard Management Company, which manages rental properties in Waterville, Lewiston, and Biddeford, notes that tenants sometimes hesitate to call landlords when heat fails or pipes freeze. “They don’t want to cause a problem,” he said. Alex Cary, resource coordinator and housing officer for Catholic Charities’ Office of Maine Refugee Services (OMRS), added that “good communication is the foundation of successful housing relationships.” Cary and his staff hold orientation meetings for all resettlement-eligible populations. They emphasize the importance of functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and educate residents on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Language barriers, cultural differences, housing challenges, and financial instability make it especially difficult for new Mainers from warm-weather regions to adjust safely to Maine’s cold winter conditions. The Maine State Housing Authority began training housing navigators in 2021 to bridge barriers to safe, warm housing. Cary hopes these navigators and case managers can help “property owners understand that refugees are great clients to rent to, but like any other tenant, they need to take the time to explain their heating system, who is paying for the heat, and their reasonable expectations surrounding the usage of the heat in a language [tenants] are fluent in.”