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Baltimore Bearing Down For Dangerously Cold Conditions

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Across the region, people are bearing down for a cold few days.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the dangerous conditions.

Six people have died from cold related illnesses in Baltimore City alone. Now an alert has been issued for the next few days.

From Old Town to Downtown, Hampden to the Harbor, all of Maryland is on ice.

"I've got everything on. Ski mask, gloves, two socks, a couple pairs of pants. All that," one man said.

The plummeting temperatures have Baltimore bundling up.

"I'm supposed to put on the sleeping bag and the mittens and the hat that looks goofy to embarrass my children," one woman said.

This kind of cold is no laughing matter.

With extreme temperatures like this, health officials warn the situation can turn dangerous in just a matter of minutes.

"One of the problems is you often don't feel that it's too cold until it's too late because one of the signs is feeling slow and confused," said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.

Nineteen people have died from cold-related illnesses in Maryland this season. Warming centers are available in Anne Arundel County.

State Highway officials are trying to avoid another tragedy.

"Winter time, running out of gas. Then they leave their flashers on. Once they leave their hazards on, then their battery dies," said Kim Yates, Maryland State Highway Administration.

They're out patrolling for stranded drivers.

For some, the outdoors is part of the job.

"We try to keep warm because the grill and everything is hot here," one street vendor said.

Those who must face the cold find ways to cope--dancing and counting down till spring.

The Code Blue alert in Baltimore will last through Monday.

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