Dangerously Cold

Monday, 6 January 2014 11:09

Health & weather officials warn of extreme temperatures that can freeze your skin within minutes

"Dangerous" is a word being used to describe the cold weather that will be impacting our region over the next couple of days.

Oxford County has issued a Cold Weather Alert, and Environment Canada has a wind chill warning in effect.

The wind chill this afternoon will be around -27 degrees Celsius, which will drop to -35 tonight. The cold and wind chill will only get more extreme on Tuesday with a daytime high of -19 and a wind chill factor of -41.

That has Oxford County Supervisor of Health Protection, Peter Heywood urging people to limit their time outdoors. "Extreme caution is really advised to anyone headed outdoors. Exposed skin (at -35 to -41) can freeze in less than 5-minutes. We're dealing with very extreme temperatures and overexposure to the cold may result in hypothermia."

Signs of hypothermia include pale skin, shivering, confusion, and eventually loss of consciousness. Heywood says if those signs are presented, it is a medical emergency and the affected person needs to seek immediate medical attention.

Heywood's best advice to stay warm: "The key is to really reduce your exposure to the outside and if you do have to go out, make sure you wear multiple layers and protect yourself from the elements. The best thing is to just be indoors, warm and cozy with a book and a cup of tea."

For those who don't have shelter, Woodstock's Inn out of the Cold shelter is open from 7PM to 7AM at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church on Dundas St. They can be contacted through Operation Sharing at 519-539-3361.

For home and business owners, Environment Canada is telling people to prevent freezing pipes in buildings by turning on the lowest tap in your house and let it run at a pencil thin stream while keeping your indoor temperature run a little warmer at night.

The conditions are expected to set daily records for cold conditions across the region on Tuesday.