Central Ohio Weather and Radar COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As central Ohio continues to experience extremely cold temperatures, first responders are dealing with cold-related calls and emergency departments are seeing patients with weather-related issues.  “The duration of the cold snap kind of matters because people are exposed to this day after day after day and there’s not really a good opportunity to retreat from it," Dr. Nicholas Kman, an emergency room physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said.  How to avoid frozen pipes as temperatures drop The hospital does not track specific numbers related to incidents or patients with cold-related conditions. However, Kman said anecdotally that the department is seeing patients due to the current weather. He said this can include patients with hypothermia or people who have slipped on ice.  “One of the things we’ve seen the last couple days is a very low windchill factor and exposed skin as the windchill factor drops, it takes less and less time to get frostbite, so you don't have to be outdoors very long," Kman said.  The Columbus Division of Fire considers cold emergencies as calls related to exposure to the cold. The department has responded to 48 of those calls since Dec. 1, 2024, according to the division; 15 of those were in the last week.  “When we have long stretches of cold weather, we worry about a few things," Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.  Still no Ohio Senate announcement, another name rumored Roberts reminded community members about warming centers, the importance of wearing multiple layers, limiting time outside if possible, and taking precautions if not.   Numbers from the Franklin County Coroner's Office show there were five deaths caused by hypothermia in 2024 and four in 2023. It is too soon for official 2025 numbers.  “It’s heartbreaking and hypothermia can result from a variety of different situations that cause someone to be outside in this extreme cold for prolonged periods of time," Roberts said.   The doctors also reminded community members to check on elderly neighbors during weather like this.