Monday and Tuesday this week promise to be cold, at times dangerously so. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Dangerously Cold Weather

Parkland Ambulance offers advice on dealing with dangerous cold

Dec 6, 2021 | 1:00 PM

Winter is nothing new to most Saskatchewan residents, and it can be easy to think of yourself as being used to it or toughened by it to the point where you can handle the cold weather easily.

Local medical authorities warn that isn’t the case, however.

Parkland Ambulance has released safety tips for dealing with colder temperatures like the ones that have Prince Albert in their grip at the moment. Many of them are simple reminders of things Canadians know to do from experience.

“If you have to travel, make sure you pack along your safety gear and check the road conditions,” said Lyle Karasiuk, director of public affairs with Parkland Ambulance. “If you are out there, maybe you’re having kids wait for the bus or walk a few short blocks to school, dress for the weather.”

For Karasiuk, this means more than throwing on a light coat and a baseball cap. In addition to a warm winter coat, he recommended a toque, winter gloves of some kind, warm footwear, and something to cover your face. That’s true whether you’re walking or driving as cars can and do break down.

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“We want to remind folks that if you are stranded, stay with your vehicle,” Karasiuk said. “Days like it is, very, very cold, you can become cold just by walking. You might think you just passed a house maybe half a mile back or across the field, but on a snow-covered field where you don’t know the terrain, it’s quite easy to step into a hole, to become injured or disoriented, and that could be the worst thing for you.”

If you have to be in your vehicle while stranded, it might be a good idea to crack your window. As much as this might seem to make things colder, it might prevent a carbon monoxide buildup if your tailpipe gets clogged with snow and ice.

Even if your vehicle never breaks down, however, you aren’t necessarily safe from the worst of the cold weather. Being outside for any length of time could leave you vulnerable to frostbite if you’re not wearing the proper clothing.

“Usually fingers, and/or toes, maybe splotches on the cheek,” Karasiuk said. “They’ll become first of all really red, then they’re going to develop some white dots or splotches. As the flesh cools — it’s made up of 80 percent water — so things freeze relatively quickly. Our bodies will start to shiver to generate heat, and if we can’t keep the heat inside our face coverings and fingers, they will become frozen.”

Blue or discolored, blistered skin is a warning sign of frostbite as well. Karasiuk added if you start to see the warning signs of frostbite, it’s best to warm up gradually if possible so as not to put the body in a state of shock.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP