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It's quite cold in Norway. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vigdis_Vandvik/publication/251878198/figure/fig2/AS:601749442285579@1520479655143/Map-of-Norway

It's quite cold in Norway. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vigdis_Vandvik/publication/251878198/figure/fig2/AS:601749442285579@1520479655143/Map-of-Norway-indicating-mean-annual-temperature-and-the-sampled-populations-as-well-as.png https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vigdis_Vandvik/publicat...

bluntfang 6y ago
Just curious, does cold affect people with disabilities more than people without, beyond the obvious non-linear difficulty increase for people with disabilities (ie something thats *2 difficulty increase for a person without disabilities is ^2 difficulty increase)? The only thing I can think of would be battery life of the mobility tools.
- zdragnar 6y ago
  Mobility scooters have to be the slowest form of personal transportation. Since you arent getting exercise, it is that much harder to keep you core temp up. Depending on just how cold it is, that could change an unpleasant trip into a dangerous one. Also, super specific to type of disease or disability, but my arthritis is way worse if I get cold. My hands are practically useless for half an hour after if I don't properly bundle up.
- magicalhippo 6y ago
  If you have asthma or similar lung issues, it can get much more severe if you breathe cold air. I've got a mild case and normally don't even think about it except for the two puffs of medicine a day, but if it's -15C or below I really notice my asthma and have to adjust my breathing technique, like breathing through the mouth with my tongue raised to heat the air before it hits the throat. If you got a severe case you can get special masks[1] which contains a heat magazine/exchange element, however it restricts airflow so if you already struggle with shortness of breath this might not work for you. [1]: https://lunginstitute.com/blog/ct-masks-for-copd/ https://lunginstitute.com/blog/ct-masks-for-copd/
- joncrane 6y ago
  Keep in mind that walking and bicycling are both forms of exertion, which generates body heat. So yes, cold DOES affect people with disabilities more, because they are not exerting themselves when out and about the way able-bodied people exert themselves.
- bluGill 6y ago
  Disabled often comes as a side effect of some other disease. Many of those also have the side effect of poor circulation. Thus cold is worse for them. Now combine this with the points the others have raised.
cameronh90 6y ago
There are heated gloves and blankets that can be powered by the mobility scooter, however.

bluntfang 6y ago

Just curious, does cold affect people with disabilities more than people without, beyond the obvious non-linear difficulty increase for people with disabilities (ie something thats *2 difficulty increase for a person without disabilities is ^2 difficulty increase)? The only thing I can think of would be battery life of the mobility tools.

zdragnar 6y ago
Mobility scooters have to be the slowest form of personal transportation. Since you arent getting exercise, it is that much harder to keep you core temp up. Depending on just how cold it is, that could change an unpleasant trip into a dangerous one. Also, super specific to type of disease or disability, but my arthritis is way worse if I get cold. My hands are practically useless for half an hour after if I don't properly bundle up.
magicalhippo 6y ago
If you have asthma or similar lung issues, it can get much more severe if you breathe cold air. I've got a mild case and normally don't even think about it except for the two puffs of medicine a day, but if it's -15C or below I really notice my asthma and have to adjust my breathing technique, like breathing through the mouth with my tongue raised to heat the air before it hits the throat. If you got a severe case you can get special masks[1] which contains a heat magazine/exchange element, however it restricts airflow so if you already struggle with shortness of breath this might not work for you. [1]: https://lunginstitute.com/blog/ct-masks-for-copd/ https://lunginstitute.com/blog/ct-masks-for-copd/
joncrane 6y ago
Keep in mind that walking and bicycling are both forms of exertion, which generates body heat. So yes, cold DOES affect people with disabilities more, because they are not exerting themselves when out and about the way able-bodied people exert themselves.
bluGill 6y ago
Disabled often comes as a side effect of some other disease. Many of those also have the side effect of poor circulation. Thus cold is worse for them. Now combine this with the points the others have raised.

cameronh90 6y ago

There are heated gloves and blankets that can be powered by the mobility scooter, however.