Environment Canada has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for York Region. The warning is expected to last until Saturday and possibly into Sunday morning. Warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill increase health risks.
Follow these tips to stay warm and prevent cold-weather injuries:
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Dress appropriately in layers; wear hats, neck warmers, gloves, socks and windproof and waterproof clothing
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Check your local forecast for weather warnings and limit outdoor activities
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Recognize the signs of frostbite and hypothermia
Frostbite is a serious health condition causing injury to body tissue from exposure to extreme cold. It most commonly affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. To prevent frostbite, look for the four P’s:
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Pink – affected areas will be reddish in colour; this is the first sign of frostbite
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Pain – affected areas will become painful
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Patches – white, waxy feeling patches show up indicating skin is dying
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Prickliness – areas will feel numb
If frostbite sets in, get out of the cold and slowly warm up affected areas.
Hypothermia is when body temperature drops dangerously low, starving your brain of oxygen and affecting your ability to think clearly or move well. Don’t ignore shivering and look for the "UMBLES" (mumbles, stumbles or fumbles) which may indicate hypothermia. If you believe someone is suffering from extreme frostbite or hypothermia, call 911 immediately.
York Region provides funding to Inn From The Cold and Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold. Open annually from November to late March/early April, both provide emergency overnight shelter, clothing and meals to adults, 18 years of age and over. The York Region Street Outreach Van provides mobile support services to the homeless and at-risk.
Emergency housing services for youth, men, women and families are also available through 360°kids Youth Hub, Blue Door Shelters (Leeder Place, Porter Place and Kevin’s Place), and The Salvation Army at the Sutton Youth Services and Belinda’s Place.
For more information on extreme cold, visit york.ca/extremecold or contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or TTY 1-866-512-6228. |