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The bitter weather that has made the Chicago-area colder than Siberia for a couple of days has been partly blamed for the death Monday of a woman in Palos Heights.
Mary Jane Alano, 88, was found Monday afternoon at a home on Moorings Drive. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said she died about 12:40 p.m. Monday.
Her primary cause of death was listed as hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—a condition related to high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries. However, the examiner’s office noted that “probable cold exposure” was a contributing factor. Her death has been ruled accidental.
Hers was the first weather-related death in Cook County this year, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
On Monday, the region experienced extreme cold, with wind chill temperatures plunging to 19 degrees below zero. Such conditions pose serious risks, particularly to vulnerable populations like the elderly. Monday was the 40th anniversary of the coldest temperature ever recorded in the Chicago-area. On that date in 1985, the temperature dipped to 27 degrees below zero and the wind chills were measured as low as the negative 80s.
There was no indication from the authorities as to what might have happened to Alano. There’s no information whether she lived alone or with other family members.
Doctors say exposure to the bitter cold the area has been experiencing can be life-threatening, especially for older adults who may have underlying health issues. Residents are advised to take precautions during extreme weather, such as staying indoors, keeping warm, and checking on neighbors who may need assistance.
Forecasters have predicted the bitter cold snap has ended and temperatures may rise into the 30s by this weekend.
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