(Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Frostbite and hypothermia risk

Cold weather increases risks of frostbite, hypothermia

Jan 15, 2020 | 1:43 PM

Exposure to the frigid temperatures we are experiencing could lead to frostbite or hypothermia.

Temperatures are expected to remain well below normal over the coming days, and wind chills could lead to further dangers.

Melfort Ambulance Manager Wayne Therres told northeastNOW it’s important to dress properly to avoid any issues.

“We want to dress in layers so that if we get too warm we can take an outer layer off,” Therres said. “Definitely make sure you’ve got a hat and a toque, because the majority of our body heat is lost through our head.”

Neck warmers are preferred over scarves, because the latter is a catch hazard, which increases the risk of strangulation.

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It is also important to ensure your ears are covered. For hands, Therres said mittens are seen as a better alternative than gloves because they keep your hands warmer.

Warm, waterproof boots are also recommended.

He said the first signs of frostbite are cold, tingly, and numbness in extremities like fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Sensation in those areas is slowly lost, and they will turn from bright red, to white, to an almost wax-like colour.

Frostbite needs to be warmed up gradually, according to Therres.

“We don’t want to rub [the affected area], we don’t want to put it into hot water. We want to warm it up with a tepid water so it just kind of feels warm on your fingers,” Therres said. “We only want to do that if we can make sure that we can stay in where it’s warm, otherwise just cover it up and let it warm up that way.”

He said the largest concern in the current cold weather is hypothermia, which is a progression of frostbite into the whole body cooling. He said people experiencing hypothermia are not themselves.

“They have slurred speech, they’re confused, they’re dazed, they have a stumbling gait, and that’s early onset hypothermia,” Therres said.

He added as hypothermia progresses, people get more disoriented and begin to make poor choices because of the confusion caused by their core body temperature dropping.

If you see anyone in this state, call 9-1-1 immediately, and try to take them somewhere they can warm up gradually.

“We want to make sure that we don’t give anybody hot liquids,” Therres said. “Hot chocolate, hot coffee is not a good thing in the picture. If we use something warm, we’re going to use something like a sugar water drink that will give them some energy and slowly warm them up from the outside.”

People who have outdoor jobs don’t have an option to be inside during the dangerously cold weather. Therres said those who work outdoors are often used to dealing with the cold, but they should keep an eye on co-workers to see if they show signs of frostbite or hypothermia.

He recommended a buddy system for anyone that has to be outside. He said travellers should ensure that someone knows where they are and where they will be going.

Pets need to have a warm place to stay, and Therres said it’s important to keep an eye on heating lamps so they don’t overheat or short out.

He said children should be bundled up, but they shouldn’t be so bundled that they overheat in your vehicle.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974