The cold weather is finally here, and with it brings potentially dangerous situations due to strong and freezing wind chills.

Stuart Brideaux, Public Education Officer with EMS in the Calgary EMS area, says that the number one way to avoid the danger is to be ready.

 "Our biggest reminder from EMS is to just be prepared. Many people are well aware that the temperatures are going to dip and with that comes a severe wind chill factor. And although generally, most people will head out with the proper layers and proper cold weather gear, one of the incidents that we do see from time to time is people being caught unprepared in the environment and not dressed properly. A good example can be commuting between Airdrie and Calgary, if you're in an incident in your vehicle where you're broken down on the side of the road, even if you're not injured and you're having a mechanical issue and the most you have is one jacket and driving gloves and light footwear, the circumstance you find yourself in while waiting for help could find you beginning to develop frostbite or even hypothermia."

Children should always be looked after, as Brideaux says what might be a freezing, stay indoors kind of day to us could be a fun day in the snow for them.

"With young children, they tend to be a little bit more okay with going out and playing even when temperatures dip, that's fine to do so, but more frequent breaks are encouraged. Also, check young children for signs and symptoms of frostbite, especially on fingers and toes and the other high point of the face, such as the tip of the nose."

Whenever on the road in a vehicle, Brideaux advises drivers to stay prepared.

"The biggest thing that a car can provide, even in lieu of it being unable to idle, would be as a shield from the wind. Again, carrying additional safety gear in your car (is) very, very important, especially if you're traveling anywhere on the highway."

If unfortunately you are caught in the cold and might be experiencing the symptoms of frostbite, Brideaux says the first thing you should do is get someplace warm.

"Very commonly, the first thing people notice, especially with exposed skin, is what is defined as frostnip, so cold skin that's often red and sore. If you simply get out of the cold and cover it with another body part such as your hand, it recovers quickly. The concern with frostbite is that it's actually frozen tissue from various degrees from the top layer down. Number one, get out of the cold environment, or at least get out of the wind and begin to gently warm the affected area as you are able. That usually involves simply immersing it in water that's around 40 or 41 degrees Celsius. If you are concerned, concerned perhaps about the depth of the frostbite, seek medical attention and recognize that thawing out frostbite is important but what is almost doubly important is to not let a frostbitten area to refreeze in an interval shortly after the incident because that can cause permanent loss of tissue.'

 

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