With winter refusing to loosen its icy grip on the London region, the Middlesex London Health Unit has been forced to issue another cold weather alert.
The fifth such alert to be issued this season came into effect Monday morning as a combination of freezing temperatures and brisk winds saw wind chill values plummet to -22 C. Overnight lows are expected to hover around -16 C, but feel more like -24 C.
Anyone planning on spending any time outside during this cold spell is advised to bundle up.
“It’s been a cold winter and while a lot of people in London and Middlesex County are taking the steps necessary to stay warm, we still find that there are other folks who don’t take these frigid conditions seriously,” said Randy Walker, public health inspector with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “The best things you can do is cover exposed skin which can be damaged by the biting cold and dress in layers in order to keep your core warm and prevent hypothermia.”
Skin overexposed to the cold is at risk of frostbite when the temperature drops below the freezing mark. Symptoms include skin turning red, blue, or in later stages, a grey/white colour. Anyone who suspects they have frostbite is advised not to rub the affected area but to warm it by placing it next to warmer skin or immerse in warm, not hot, water. It can take up to 60 minutes to re-warm the frostbitten area.
The extreme cold also increases the risk of hypothermia, which takes hold when a person’s internal body temperature drops below normal. According to the health unit, symptoms can include pale skin, drowsiness, confusion, and hallucinations. Severe cases can cause a loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, and a hard to detect pulse. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms should be taken for immediate medical treatment.
Health officials are also advising agencies that assist London’s homeless population to prepare for an increase in demand for services. Anyone who spots someone who is outdoors and in distress due to the cold is urged to call London CAReS at 519-667-2273 or 911 if it is a medical emergency.
A list of warming centres in the City of London can be found by clicking here.
The cold weather alert will remain in effect until Tuesday morning.
