We might be saying goodbye to 2017, but not to the extreme cold weather enclosed Toronto. Recently, Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold weather alert for the Southern Ontario area.
There are quite a few warnings: “A multi-day episode of very cold wind chills continues. Windchill will reach values at or below minus 30 again tonight into Tuesday morning. Extreme cold puts everyone at risk. Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill. Check on older family, friends and neighbours. If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside. Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.” For more info about your specific location, please visit the Environment Canada website.
Frostbite doesn’t sound fun. So I try to dig up some info about that. How to spot, prevent and treat frostbite? Most cases of frostbite include the following symptoms: skin feels numb, skin is discolored, pain around the exposed area. More severe symptoms are like blisters on the skin, skin turns black, joints and muscles are stiff. To prevent frostbite, limit time you are outdoors, dress in multiple layers of loose clothing, wear a hat to cover ears, wear mittens which provide better protection. For first aid treatment, do the following: seek shelter from the cold, place hands and feet in warm water, avoid lamps, fire, or heating pads, those can burn frostbitten skin, drink warm drinks.
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