Winter storms in Atlantic City, New Jersey, can create more than slippery sidewalks and difficult driving conditions. A combination of freezing temperatures, strong coastal winds, snow, ice, power outages, blocked roads, and prolonged time indoors can create serious health risks. For residents, visitors, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and anyone who depends on regular medication, preparation can make an important difference.

Atlantic City has a unique winter environment because of its coastal location. A storm can bring snow, freezing rain, strong winds, and rapidly changing temperatures, while flooding or coastal conditions can complicate transportation and access to services. Before going outside during severe weather, residents should monitor official weather information and understand how quickly conditions can change. Checking the Atlantic City winter storm warning today can help residents decide whether outdoor activities such as snow shoveling, walking, or driving should be postponed.

Many winter-related medical emergencies are preventable. Knowing the warning signs of hypothermia, frostbite, heart problems, and carbon monoxide poisoning can help people recognize danger early and seek appropriate medical attention.

Heart Attack Risk From Snow Shoveling

Snow shoveling is often treated as a routine winter chore, but it can place considerable stress on the cardiovascular system. Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, which can increase blood pressure. At the same time, shoveling heavy or wet snow requires substantial physical effort. The combination can be particularly dangerous for people with coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of heart attack, or other cardiovascular conditions.

New Jersey emergency-management guidance specifically warns that cold weather places additional strain on the heart and that heavy exertion, including shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle, can increase the risk of a heart attack.

Atlantic City residents should be especially cautious when snow is wet and heavy. Coastal storms can produce precipitation that changes from snow to sleet, freezing rain, or rain. Wet snow can weigh considerably more than light, powdery snow, making each shovel load harder to move.

How to shovel more safely

• Warm up indoors before beginning strenuous work.
• Dress in several warm layers and protect your hands, head, feet, and face.
• Use a smaller shovel load rather than trying to lift large amounts of snow.
• Push snow whenever possible instead of repeatedly lifting it.
• Take frequent breaks indoors.
• Avoid shoveling immediately after waking when your body may not yet be ready for strenuous exertion.
• Ask for assistance if you have a heart condition or another medical condition that makes heavy exercise risky.

Do not try to “push through” warning symptoms. Chest pressure, chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, heavy sweating, nausea, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach can indicate a medical emergency. Women can sometimes experience less typical cardiac symptoms. AtlantiCare advises calling 911 for potentially serious symptoms such as persistent or recurring chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sudden weakness, confusion, or other signs of a life-threatening emergency.

Hypothermia: Recognizing When Cold Becomes Dangerous

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Although it is associated with very cold weather, it can also develop in less extreme temperatures when someone is wet, exhausted, inadequately dressed, or exposed for an extended period.

During an Atlantic City winter storm, hypothermia can occur while clearing snow, walking home, waiting for transportation, becoming stranded in a vehicle, or living in a home that has lost heat. Older adults, infants, people with limited mobility, and individuals who cannot maintain adequate heating are particularly vulnerable.

Common warning signs in adults include uncontrolled or persistent shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory problems, slurred speech, and drowsiness. A body temperature below 95°F is considered a medical emergency.

What to do if hypothermia is suspected

Move the person into a warm environment and remove wet clothing. Wrap the person in dry blankets or clothing and concentrate on warming the center of the body, including the chest, neck, head, and groin. If the person is awake and able to swallow safely, a warm nonalcoholic drink may help.

Do not give alcohol to someone with hypothermia. Alcohol can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature and may make the situation worse. An unconscious person should not be given anything by mouth.

Severe hypothermia requires emergency medical attention. If the person becomes unconscious or appears not to be breathing normally, call 911 and follow emergency-dispatch instructions.

Frostbite and Safe Treatment

Frostbite happens when body tissue freezes. Fingers, toes, ears, cheeks, nose, and chin are among the areas most commonly affected because they are exposed and have less protection from the cold.

Early frostbite may cause redness or pain. As the injury progresses, the affected skin can become numb and develop a white, grayish-yellow, firm, or waxy appearance. Because numbness can occur, someone may not realize how serious the injury is.

Frostbite should be taken seriously because severe tissue damage can result in permanent injury and, in extreme cases, amputation.

What to do for frostbite

• Move the person indoors or into another warm shelter.
• Remove wet clothing and jewelry near the affected area.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• If immediate medical care is unavailable, gently warm the affected area with warm, not hot, water.
• Use body heat, such as placing frostbitten fingers under the armpit, when appropriate.

Never rub or massage frostbitten skin, and do not rub it with snow. Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, stove, radiator, fireplace, or other intense heat source directly on numb tissue. Because frostbitten skin cannot sense heat normally, it can burn easily. CDC guidance also advises avoiding walking on frostbitten feet or toes unless it is absolutely necessary.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Power Outages

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is one of the most dangerous hazards associated with winter power outages. It is colorless and odorless, so people cannot rely on their senses to detect it.

Portable generators are a major source of concern. When electricity fails, residents may be tempted to operate a generator inside a garage, basement, porch, shed, or other partially enclosed location to keep it protected from snow. This can allow deadly concentrations of CO to accumulate.

Generators should be operated outdoors and more than 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents. They should never be used inside a home, basement, garage, or other enclosed space. CDC guidance also recommends having a battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide detector in the home.

Blocked vents and exhaust pipes are another winter danger. Snow can accumulate around a furnace exhaust, water-heater vent, dryer vent, or vehicle tailpipe. If exhaust cannot escape properly, carbon monoxide may enter an occupied space.

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning

Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Because these symptoms can resemble influenza or another illness, people sometimes do not realize that several household members are being exposed to CO.

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, everyone should move outside into fresh air and call 911 or seek emergency medical assistance. Do not remain inside to investigate the source. New Jersey health officials emphasize that CO poisoning from generators is preventable and recommend using CO detectors and keeping generators well away from buildings.

Seasonal Affective Disorder During Prolonged Winter Storms

Winter storms can affect mental health as well as physical health. Several days of bad weather can keep people inside, disrupt normal routines, reduce outdoor activity, limit social contact, and decrease exposure to daylight. For some individuals, these changes can worsen existing depression or contribute to seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD.

SAD is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Winter-pattern SAD generally begins during the late fall or winter and improves during spring and summer. Symptoms can include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, low energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, and social withdrawal. Winter-pattern SAD may also involve oversleeping and increased appetite or carbohydrate cravings.

A prolonged storm does not automatically cause SAD. However, repeated periods of darkness, isolation, disrupted schedules, and limited outdoor activity can make existing mental-health challenges more difficult to manage.

Protecting mental health during storm periods

• Keep a consistent sleep and wake schedule.
• Open curtains or blinds during daylight hours when possible.
• Stay connected with family and friends through phone or video calls.
• Maintain regular meals and hydration.
• Do safe indoor physical activity if conditions prevent outdoor exercise.
• Continue prescribed mental-health medications as directed.
• Contact a healthcare professional if depressive symptoms persist or interfere with daily life.

Light therapy, psychotherapy, medication, and other treatments may be appropriate for people with SAD, depending on their circumstances. NIMH recommends discussing treatment options with a healthcare professional rather than attempting to self-treat significant depression.

Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or immediate danger should seek emergency help. In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available for people experiencing a mental-health crisis, while life-threatening emergencies require 911.

Pharmacy Access When Roads Are Closed

Medication access can become a serious health issue when snow and ice make travel difficult. People who take insulin, heart medications, seizure medications, anticoagulants, inhalers, psychiatric medications, or other essential prescriptions should avoid waiting until their supply is almost gone before a major storm.

Before severe weather arrives, check prescription quantities and contact your pharmacy or healthcare provider if a refill is needed. Ask whether prescriptions can be transferred, delivered, or filled through another location if the usual pharmacy becomes inaccessible. Patients should not independently change doses or stop medications because travel is difficult.

It is also useful to keep an updated medication list that includes prescription names, doses, allergies, and healthcare-provider information. Store medications according to their instructions and protect temperature-sensitive medicines from freezing or excessive heat.

Atlantic City has healthcare resources that can remain important during severe weather. AtlantiCare's Atlantic City campus includes a pharmacy and emergency department, while its emergency department is listed as open 24 hours a day.

However, residents should not assume that a particular retail pharmacy will operate normally during a major storm. Individual locations may adjust hours because of staffing, road conditions, utility problems, or other safety issues. Calling ahead or checking the pharmacy's current communication channels can prevent an unnecessary trip during hazardous conditions.

Hospital Emergency Preparedness in Atlantic City

Hospitals have to prepare for two problems at the same time during major winter storms: increased demand for emergency care and difficult operating conditions outside the hospital. Storms can lead to falls, vehicle crashes, heart problems, hypothermia, frostbite, respiratory problems, carbon monoxide poisoning, and injuries related to snow removal.

Atlantic City residents have access to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Atlantic City Campus at 1925 Pacific Avenue. Its emergency department provides care around the clock, and the facility includes emergency, trauma, imaging, inpatient, pharmacy, and other services.

Emergency medical services are also important when roads are hazardous. AtlantiCare EMS provides emergency treatment and transportation and includes basic and advanced life-support capabilities. Its paramedics are equipped to identify and manage time-sensitive conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

For residents, the most important point is that a severe storm should never be a reason to ignore a genuine medical emergency. If someone has severe chest pain, significant difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, severe confusion, loss of consciousness, serious frostbite, suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, or another life-threatening condition, call 911 rather than attempting to drive through dangerous conditions yourself.

Preparing a Winter Storm Health Kit

A small health-focused emergency kit can reduce the need to travel during the worst part of a storm. In addition to food and water, households should consider keeping several days of essential medications when medically appropriate, a first-aid kit, a thermometer, necessary medical supplies, flashlights, extra batteries, battery-powered or backup carbon monoxide detectors, blankets, warm clothing, and a written medication list.

People who use medical equipment requiring electricity should make an outage plan in advance. Ask the equipment provider or healthcare team about backup power options and what to do if electricity is unavailable for an extended period.

Families should also check on neighbors who may have difficulty preparing for or responding to severe winter weather. Older adults, people with disabilities, infants, and residents with chronic medical conditions may need additional assistance with heating, food, medication access, transportation, or communication.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Help

Winter storms can make people reluctant to leave home, but some symptoms should never be dismissed as “just the cold.” Seek emergency assistance for serious chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, signs of stroke, loss of consciousness, severe confusion, suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, severe hypothermia, or a rapidly worsening medical condition.

Do not attempt to transport someone yourself if their condition is potentially life-threatening or if roads are too dangerous for safe travel. Emergency medical personnel can provide treatment during transport and coordinate with the receiving hospital.

Staying Healthy Before, During, and After an Atlantic City Winter Storm

The safest approach to winter storms is prevention. Residents should prepare medications before roads become difficult to travel, maintain safe heating equipment, keep carbon monoxide detectors operational, dress appropriately for outdoor work, and avoid unnecessary exposure to freezing temperatures.

Snow shoveling should be treated as strenuous exercise rather than an ordinary household chore. Anyone with significant cardiovascular risk should discuss safe levels of physical activity with a healthcare professional. People working outdoors should watch for early signs of cold injury and take regular warming breaks.

Inside the home, safe heating practices are just as important as staying warm. Never use a generator, charcoal grill, or fuel-burning camping appliance inside an enclosed area. Keep outdoor generator exhaust away from doors, windows, and ventilation openings, and make sure snow does not block exhaust outlets. These precautions are especially important during power outages, when residents may be tempted to improvise alternative heating arrangements.

Finally, remember that winter storm health risks do not end when the snow stops. Shoveling, icy sidewalks, delayed medical appointments, medication shortages, carbon monoxide exposure, and prolonged stress can continue for days after a storm. Taking a cautious approach to recovery can help Atlantic City residents avoid preventable injuries and medical emergencies.

With advance preparation, attention to weather conditions, safe heating practices, appropriate cold-weather clothing, medication planning, and early recognition of serious symptoms, residents can substantially reduce the health dangers associated with winter storms. When a condition appears life-threatening, however, preparation should give way to action: seek emergency medical assistance rather than waiting for the weather to improve.