Experts recommend staying indoors as dangerous cold grips Philadelphia region

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- You think it's cold now, it's going to get even colder.

The Delaware Valley hasn't seen a stretch of temperatures this dangerous since 2004, when we experienced nine straight days below freezing. Tuesday is day four of this current stretch.

"A lot of heating pads, heavy weather coats, a lot of wool, but it's hard out here," said Maya Thiruselvam of West Philadelphia.

Bernadine Whitmore had to trek through the snow with her cart to get to the bus stop; she knows a clear path, unfortunately, isn't likely any time soon.

"It's going to be challenging because not everybody shovels, not everybody can," sympathized Bernadine Whitmore of Logan.

But dressing in layers is how she stays warm while she waits for the bus.

Dangerously low temperatures, like the ones we're experiencing now, can cause hypothermia or even frostbite, but luckily, both can be prevented.

"Just have to make sure dressing appropriately in layers covering everything from head to toe, hands, feet, head, and making sure to prevent loss of heat," explained Dr. Delana Wardlaw, a family medicine physician.

Dr. Wardlaw said it's best to have as little skin exposed as possible, and if you have to be outdoors, only do so for 10 to 30 minutes max.

"In these dangerously low temperatures, the body, when you get hypothermia, it loses heat quicker than it can produce it," noted Dr. Wardlaw.