Cold weather prompts online conversations about cold-related deaths

As winter storms and extreme cold affect millions across the United States, including much of the South, conversations about winter weather preparation and cold-related deaths circulated online. Local officials encouraged wearing layers, keeping warm clothing and blankets in cars, and being aware of fire and carbon monoxide safety measures when trying to keep warm indoors. Several social media posts emphasized the dangers of cold temperatures, especially in regions unaccustomed to cold weather. Additionally, some users explained how climate change could cause extreme weather, sharing a recent study that links the rise in cold-related deaths in the last two decades to climate change and research that shows that cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes increase in the winter. Many posts dismissed the concerns as fearmongering and mocked the idea that “global warming” causes colder temperatures. Some posts claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for the increase in heart attacks in winter, a phenomenon that has been observed for decades.

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