Hidden Danger Lurking For Louisiana’s Weekend Mardi Gras Parades

(KMDL-FM) When you think of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, your first thoughts are usually in the direction of fun. Then, if you're a true Cajun or a Cajun transplant at Mardi Gras, your next thought is about food and beverage. Then come thoughts of your spot along the parade route, and eventually, you think about safety. This weekend, you have another concern, and you won't see it coming.

READ MORE: Line Up Announced For Mardi Gras Festival at Cajun Field in Lafayette

This weekend, based on the schedule of events that we've seen, appears to be the opening salvo of Mardi Gras activities, at least on a grander scale. Granted, there have already been many Mardi Gras Balls and even a few parades. But just by looking at the calendar, you can see the "importance" of this weekend in the Mardi Gras lineup.

In case you weren't paying attention, it will be February on Sunday. Yeah, time flies when you're paying off Christmas bills and dodging ice storms, doesn't it? It also means that as of Sunday, we are seventeen days away from Fat Tuesday. In terms that "party people" can understand, there are only three weekends between now and Mardi Gras.

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What Is the Hidden Danger Lurking on the Parade Routes This Weekend?

Every year, we'll publish a list of Do's and Don'ts for Mardi Gras. Local law enforcement agencies and municipal governments do that, too. When you have an event as big and as spreadout as Mardi Gras, safety is an issue. But this weekend, even the most seasoned Mardi Gras reveler needs to pay attention to an invisible killer that will be lurking along the parade route.

READ MORE: Thou Shalt Know - The Ten Commandments of Mardi Gras

That silent killer has already claimed at least one life in the recent winter storm, and if you're not careful, you or your children could fall victim to it. It's an issue that our friends who enjoy hunting and fishing are all too familiar with. It's a silent killer known as hypothermia.

What Is Hypothermia and How Can It Happen at a Mardi Gras Parade?

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. That will be a real possibility along parade routes across Louisiana this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to be in the middle 30s for highs on Saturday. There will also be a very stiff breeze to accompany those low temperatures, making the feels-like temperature on the body even colder.

To add to that, many people will be physically active along the parade route. Hopefully, they will be wearing coats. But what happens when you wear a coat and you're physically active? You start to sweat. Sweat's purpose is to cool the body, which is not what you want on a cold winter day.

Wet clothing, even slightly damp clothing from perspiration, can exacerbate hypothermia. Daniel Jackson, of Lafayette Shooters, explained the situation from a hunter's perspective in this piece we featured late last year. It applies to the parade routes this weekend.

Unfortunatley this weekend's forecast is shaping up to be very cold and very breezy. If you do have plans to be outside on a parade route, please take the extra precautions to protect your kids, especially. If you're unfamiliar with the symptoms of Hypothermia, here's what you should be aware of.

The organizers of Carencro's Mardi Gras Parade made a tough choice to cancel their event this weekend. I'm sure many of you won't understand why. But sometimes the right choice is not the popular choice.

How Quickly Can Hypothermia Set In?

And remember, you don't have to be outside long to be affected by the cold. For example, if you're taking a several-minute walk across a parking lot from a Mardi Gras ball to your car, and you've been dancing and drinking, well, let's just say things could go downhill faster than you think.

As you can see, there are a couple of those risk factors that could be applied to Mardi Gras balls and the walk to the car. Namely, the alcohol and the fact that most "ball attire" is not designed for warmth.

It's not uncommon for it to be cold at Mardi Gras in Louisiana, but it is uncommon for it to be this cold. Please be careful, and let's hope things warm up a little bit as we head into the first full weekend of February next weekend. Goodness knows the parade and event schedule is even more robust.