A polar vortex is bringing the coldest weather of a generation to southeastern Iowa, and emergency personnel are warning of the danger of hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing your core body temperature to fall. Hypothermia is often induced by cold, wet conditions, such as rain, snow, sleet, or immersion in water. Washington Fire Chief Tom Wide tells KCII News the best advice he can offer to avoid hyperthermia during this cold snap is “if you don’t have to go out, don’t.”