Which preventive measure is recommended before large cold-weather events?

• A. Notify area hospital and emergency personnel before large events
• B. Avoid hydration
• C. Skip the event
• D. Use alcohol-based heaters

Answer: (A)

Coordinating with medical resources before a large cold-weather event is a proactive planning step that helps ensure rapid, effective care if problems arise. Notifying area hospitals and emergency personnel creates a clear line of communication and preparedness: hospitals can anticipate the number and types of patients, assign appropriate staff and beds, and EMS can plan triage, transport routes, and on-site support. This kind of advance planning reduces response delays, improves patient outcomes for issues like hypothermia, frostbite, or respiratory stress, and helps organizers coordinate cooling, warming, and shelter strategies with medical teams.

The other options don’t fit as preventive measures. Skipping the event isn’t a practical or desirable default for planning; hydration should be maintained rather than avoided, since staying hydrated helps manage cold exposure and performance. Using alcohol-based heaters introduces fire and carbon monoxide risks and is not a recommended safety measure.