Letter carriers bundle up to brave cold

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - As the mercury sunk toward zero, staying warm becomes a priority.

Hats, gloves, and scarfs are all a must when temperatures are cold and wind chills are below zero. But for those who are working in the elements they have to make sure they stay warm.

Terry Taylor has been a letter carrier for seven years and knows when the temperatures are this cold it's time to layer.

Taylor's route is downtown which means he can take brief breaks from the cold while delivering mail to businesses, but he knows cold, wet feet can make a miserable day

If these proper precautions aren't followed serious medical issues can occur. Doctor Rob Hunter has seen may slips and falls at the Grandview Hospital ER, but cautions those outside during the bitter cold.

"If you start to become really cold and not be able to feel fingers they start to get nauseated, along with confusion are first symptoms of hypothermia," said Dr. Hunter.

Taylor, who has to spend at least six hours in the elements, is avoiding hypothermia by layering up. To make his job go a bit more smoothly, he asked people to clear walkways so that letter carriers can get to the mailboxes.