True or false?

1. If you go outside in the winter with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold.

2. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature goes below 98.6 degrees.

3. Frostbite should be treated by a doctor. Frostnip can be treated at home.

4. Scarves are especially important if you have asthma.

5. If you lick a metal pole in the winter, your tongue will stick to it.

Answers:

1. False. This is what’s called an old wives tale. Wet hair in the cold will make you feel colder, but only germs cause a cold. The wet hair, however, and the extra work the body has to do to keep itself warm, can weaken your body’s immune system. The immune system fights off those germs, and so if it’s weak, the germs will have a better chance of setting in.

2. False. Technically, hypothermia sets in when the thermometer reads 95 degrees. It may not seem like much, but think about how sick you can feel when your temperature goes up to 102 degrees.

3. True.

4. True.

5. True, if it’s cold enough. The moisture on your tongue freezes, creating a bond between your tongue and the pole. A dousing of water will loosen the tongue.