Winter storms in Nashua, New Hampshire, can create more than transportation problems and power outages. Heavy snow, freezing temperatures, strong winds, icy surfaces, and prolonged periods indoors can produce serious health risks. Some emergencies happen outside while residents are clearing snow or traveling through dangerous conditions. Others develop inside the home when heating systems fail, generators are used incorrectly, or people remain exposed to cold for too long.

Nashua's winter safety guidance identifies hypothermia and frostbite as major cold-related concerns and recommends preparing for possible interruptions to utilities and other services. The city also specifically emphasizes having medications and other personal needs included in an emergency supply kit.

Residents can reduce many of these risks by preparing before severe weather arrives, recognizing warning signs early, and knowing when a problem requires emergency medical attention. If you have a heart condition, check the Nashua winter storm warning today before deciding whether to shovel or travel. During a major storm, avoiding unnecessary outdoor exertion can be an important part of protecting your health.

Why Winter Storms Can Be Dangerous to Your Health

A severe winter storm can combine several hazards at the same time. Snow and ice make walking and driving more difficult, while cold air increases the body's need to conserve heat. A power outage may remove a home's normal source of heating, lighting, and communication. At the same time, pharmacies, medical offices, grocery stores, and other services may become difficult to reach.

The health consequences can range from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies. Falls on ice can cause fractures and head injuries. Cold exposure can progress to hypothermia or frostbite. Shoveling can place substantial stress on the cardiovascular system. Improper generator placement can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, while prolonged isolation can contribute to anxiety, depression, or worsening seasonal affective disorder.

For people with chronic conditions, preparation is particularly important. Older adults, young children, people with limited mobility, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions may have greater difficulty coping with extreme cold or disrupted access to care.

Snow Shoveling and the Risk of Heart Attack

Snow shoveling may appear to be routine winter work, but it can be strenuous exercise. Heavy or wet snow can be particularly demanding because each shovel load may require considerable lifting and pushing. Cold temperatures can add another physiological challenge.

The combination of physical exertion and cold weather can place significant stress on the cardiovascular system. The National Weather Service specifically warns that overexertion from shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking through deep snow can contribute to heart attack risk, particularly in people who are not in good health.

People with known heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of stroke, or other cardiovascular risk factors should take extra care. That does not necessarily mean they can never shovel, but it does mean that strenuous snow removal should not be treated casually.

Warning signs that require emergency attention

• Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest
• Pain or discomfort spreading to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden unusual sweating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Unusual weakness or extreme fatigue

If these symptoms occur during or after snow removal, stop the activity and seek emergency medical help. Do not attempt to drive yourself if you may be experiencing a heart attack. Calling 911 allows emergency medical personnel to begin assessment and treatment while transportation is arranged.

Safer snow removal practices

When snow must be cleared, take frequent breaks rather than trying to finish the entire driveway at once. Push snow when possible instead of lifting it. Use a smaller shovel load, stay hydrated, dress in layers, and avoid sudden bursts of intense effort. If conditions are particularly severe, arranging help or waiting for professional snow removal may be safer than forcing yourself to do the work.

Hypothermia: Symptoms Nashua Residents Should Recognize

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Although it is associated with very cold conditions, it can also occur at temperatures above 40°F when someone becomes wet or chilled.

This makes hypothermia relevant during snowstorms even when the thermometer does not appear dangerously low. Someone clearing snow while sweating, becoming soaked by melting snow, or spending too long outside can gradually lose body heat.

Common adult symptoms

• Persistent shivering
• Extreme tiredness or exhaustion
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory problems
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness

As hypothermia becomes more severe, a person's mental function and physical coordination can deteriorate. This creates a dangerous cycle because the affected person may not realize how seriously they are becoming impaired.

A body temperature below 95°F is considered a medical emergency. The CDC recommends obtaining medical attention immediately when this occurs.

What to do when hypothermia is suspected

Move the person indoors or to another warm shelter. Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry layers or blankets. Focus on warming the center of the body, including the chest, neck, head, and groin. Warm beverages can help an alert person, but alcohol should not be used as a warming treatment.

Do not give food or drinks to someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow safely. Severe hypothermia requires emergency medical care, and an unconscious person should be handled gently while emergency assistance is obtained.

Frostbite: Recognizing and Treating Frozen Tissue

Frostbite happens when body tissue freezes. The fingers, toes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin are particularly vulnerable. Early frostbite may cause redness or pain, followed by numbness. More advanced frostbite can produce skin that appears white, grayish-yellow, or waxy and feels unusually firm.

One reason frostbite is dangerous is that numbness can make a person underestimate the injury. Someone may not realize that tissue has been damaged until they return indoors.

Appropriate first aid

Get the affected person into a warm location as quickly as possible. Remove wet clothing and protect the affected area from additional cold. If immediate medical care is not available and the person does not have signs of hypothermia, CDC guidance recommends warming frostbitten tissue in warm, not hot, water. The water should feel comfortably warm rather than painful or scalding.

Do not rub, massage, or vigorously manipulate frostbitten skin. Do not rub it with snow. Avoid direct heat from a stove, fireplace, radiator, heating pad, or heat lamp because numb tissue can burn without the person realizing it.

If the feet or toes are frostbitten, avoid walking on them unless walking is necessary to reach safety. Frostbite should be medically evaluated, particularly when the affected area is deeply numb, discolored, blistered, or severely painful after rewarming.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Power Outages

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is one of the most serious indoor hazards associated with winter storms. It is a colorless and odorless gas produced when fuels such as gasoline, propane, natural gas, and charcoal are burned. Because people cannot see or smell it, a dangerous concentration can develop without an obvious warning.

Portable generators are a major concern during power failures. The CDC states that generators should never be operated inside homes, basements, garages, or other enclosed areas. Generators should also be positioned at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.

A blocked exhaust vent can create another problem. Snow may accumulate around furnace vents, dryer vents, or other exhaust outlets. If combustion gases cannot escape properly, dangerous gases can enter living spaces. Before and during a storm, residents should check that vents remain clear of snow and ice when it is safe to do so.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Chest pain
• Confusion or altered mental status
• Loss of consciousness in severe cases

CO poisoning can resemble the flu, which makes it easy to overlook. If multiple people in the same household develop similar symptoms at the same time, especially while a fuel-burning appliance or generator is operating, carbon monoxide should be considered as a possible cause.

Leave the building and get into fresh air if carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, then seek emergency medical assistance. Do not re-enter the building until it has been determined to be safe.

Seasonal Affective Disorder During Prolonged Winter Storms

Winter storms can affect mental health as well as physical health. A prolonged period of snow, cloud cover, limited daylight, disrupted routines, and isolation can be particularly difficult for people who already experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

SAD is a type of depression with a seasonal pattern. Symptoms can include persistent low mood, reduced interest in normal activities, changes in sleep, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, and low energy. A major storm does not automatically cause SAD, but extended periods of reduced daylight and social isolation can make winter-related mood problems more difficult to manage.

During a long storm-related stay indoors, maintaining a predictable routine can help. Try to wake and sleep at consistent times, eat regular meals, remain physically active indoors when safe, and maintain contact with friends or family by phone or video. During daylight hours, spend time near naturally lit areas when possible.

People who already have a treatment plan for depression or SAD should continue following it unless their healthcare professional advises otherwise. If mood symptoms become severe, persistent, or associated with thoughts of self-harm, professional help should be sought immediately.

Medication and Pharmacy Access When Roads Close

Medication access can become a significant health issue when snow and ice make travel difficult. A person may have enough food for several days but still face a serious problem if an essential prescription runs out.

Nashua's emergency preparedness guidance recommends including individual medication needs in a household emergency supply kit. This is especially important for medications that should not be stopped suddenly or that are essential for conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, asthma, or high blood pressure.

Before a major storm, check prescription supplies and request refills early when appropriate. Keep an updated medication list containing drug names, doses, prescribing information, allergies, and pharmacy contact details. People who use refrigerated medications should also have a plan for maintaining appropriate storage temperatures during a power outage.

If roads become unsafe, contact your pharmacy or healthcare provider rather than attempting a dangerous trip. Ask whether prescription delivery, mail-order services, emergency refill procedures, or alternative arrangements are available. Pharmacy hours and delivery options can change during severe weather, so residents should confirm current information rather than assuming a business will operate normally.

For an urgent medication problem, healthcare professionals can help determine the safest next step. Do not take someone else's prescription or change medication doses simply because a storm makes normal access difficult.

Hospital Emergency Preparedness in Nashua

Hospitals must continue providing emergency care even when severe weather affects transportation, staffing, utilities, and demand for medical services. Nashua has hospital-based emergency resources that operate around the clock.

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, located at 8 Prospect Street in Nashua, reports that its emergency department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is connected directly to a full-service hospital, allowing emergency patients to access hospital services when needed.

Nashua also has an additional 24/7 emergency-care option. Catholic Medical Center opened Nashua ER at 338 Amherst Street in July 2026 as a freestanding emergency department providing round-the-clock emergency services, including emergency imaging and laboratory capabilities.

Emergency preparedness is not limited to keeping an emergency department open. Nashua's public health emergency preparedness program works with regional partners to maintain plans for health and medical support during emergencies.

For residents, the practical lesson is simple: know where emergency care is available before a storm begins. Keep your phone charged, maintain transportation and communication plans, and make sure family members know how to call 911. If roads are hazardous, do not delay a genuine medical emergency simply because conditions are inconvenient.

When to Call 911 During a Winter Storm

Some winter-related symptoms should never be managed at home simply because travel is difficult. Call 911 for signs of a heart attack, severe difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, severe confusion, suspected serious carbon monoxide poisoning, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or other potentially life-threatening emergencies.

Severe hypothermia also requires immediate medical attention. Southern New Hampshire Health advises people experiencing life-threatening emergencies to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Emergency responders understand that winter storms can complicate transportation. If you are unsure whether a situation is serious, it is safer to seek professional emergency guidance than to ignore rapidly worsening symptoms.

Preparing a Nashua Winter Health Kit

A useful winter health kit should go beyond food and bottled water. Consider keeping the following supplies available before a major storm:

• At least several days of essential medications, when possible
• A current medication and allergy list
• Battery-powered or rechargeable carbon monoxide detectors
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• Warm blankets and extra dry clothing
• First-aid supplies
• Thermometer
• Prescription contact information
• Portable phone chargers
• Nonperishable foods appropriate for household dietary needs
• Water and medically necessary supplies
• Emergency contact information

Nashua's winter safety guidance also recommends preparing for extended utility interruptions and keeping emergency supplies available for several days.

Protecting Your Health Before, During, and After the Storm

The safest approach to winter storms is prevention. Before severe weather arrives, review medications, check heating equipment, test carbon monoxide detectors, prepare warm clothing, and establish a communication plan with family members. If you have cardiovascular disease or another condition that makes strenuous activity risky, arrange help with snow removal rather than assuming you can safely handle heavy snow yourself.

During the storm, stay indoors when conditions are dangerous, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor household temperatures if the heating system fails. Keep outdoor generators far from buildings and make sure exhaust vents remain unobstructed. Watch children, older adults, and anyone with mobility or medical challenges more closely than usual.

After the storm, remember that risks do not immediately disappear when snowfall stops. Clearing driveways can cause exertion-related emergencies, roofs and trees may remain hazardous, and melting snow can refreeze into dangerous ice. Continue monitoring for cold injuries and avoid rushing outside simply because the weather appears calmer.

Winter storms are a normal part of life in Nashua, but serious health emergencies do not have to be. Preparation, early recognition of symptoms, safe heating practices, sensible limits on physical exertion, and timely medical care can greatly reduce the dangers associated with severe winter weather.