A man was found dead outside in downtown Providence early Wednesday morning as the region experienced frigid temperatures.
Emergency responders were called to a Washington Street business just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, after a nearby business reported concern for someone outside during freezing temperatures, according to Providence police spokesperson Kristy DosReis.
Responders found a man unresponsive on the sidewalk who showed no signs of breathing and no visible signs of external trauma, DosReis said via email. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
In the wake of the man’s death, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches called for a coordinated campaign to ensure no one risks spending a night outside in the cold.
“No single organization can solve this alone,” the council said in a press release. “It is only through committed partnership and shared accountability that we can build a system strong enough to prevent future deaths. We urge every sector partner to join us in a commitment to working collaboratively to implement these lifesaving measures.”
Southern New England has seen brutally cold temperatures throughout the week, with no signs of stopping soon. The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Thursday night, saying overnight “dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.”
Communities across Rhode Island have opened warming centers. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency maintains a full list of those locations. The 2-1-1 help line, operated by the United Way of Rhode Island, can also connect people to services.
Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s largest provider of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness, said even brief skin exposure could be dangerous during the storm’s coldest hours.
“Do not wait until you are already shivering to seek shelter,” the organization said in a release. “This is life-threatening weather, and getting indoors as soon as possible will save lives.”
