Being prepared when the temperatures drop
Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer
Temperatures plunged to below – 30°C in Sioux Lookout last week and may do so again before this winter is through.
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) reminds people to take extra caution when spending time outdoors, especially in the extremely cold.
NWHU shared that this winter will be different from past winters due to additional indoor COVID-19 restrictions. They added that people have been spending more time outdoors.
NWHU Manager of Environmental Health, Thomas Nabb shared in a media release, “When temperatures reach
– 28°C or below, with or without the wind chill, the risk of a cold-related injury such as frostbite or hypothermia increases. For example, in – 28°C, exposed skin can freeze in 10-30 minutes, or even sooner if the wind speed is faster.” Cold-related injuries like frostbite and hypothermia are medical emergencies and should immediately be reported to 911, shared the NWHU. Populations at a greater risk of cold-related injury include infants and children, the elderly, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers, sports enthusiasts, and people lacking proper shelter, clothing or food.
To prevent a cold-related injury, the NWHU suggests that people dress in layers of warm clothing. Ensure hands, feet and head, are covered with a hat, scarf, insulated gloves, and waterproof boots. Keep a regular watch for any signs of frostbite. They further advise people to reschedule, reduce time or cancel any planned outdoor activity and keep infants and children inside during periods of extreme cold.
Along with keeping your body healthy, it is also of utmost importance to ensure the proper and safe functioning of your vehicle. A licensed mechanic at Aztak Auto, Rick Jaworski said, “Plug it in. Make sure your block heater works, make sure your anti-freeze is topped up and to the proper temperature, which around here is a minimum of – 35°C.”
Service Manager at H & M Cars, Jamie Armstrong said, “Check tire pressures. A lot of times when we’ve been into the warm weather and then the cold snap, with temperatures fluctuating, tire pressures fluctuate as well. Basically making sure fluids are topped up, coolant levels are good that control the heating of the vehicle.” She added that winter tires are always a good idea, providing more traction and stopping control.
Jaworski said, “A lot of things that we’re finding in Sioux Lookout, because everybody does such short trips, is it doesn’t get your vehicle hot enough for long enough and we’re finding a lot of oil pans are filled with ice because of the condensation that develops because of the short driving.” He added that even though the manufacturers may indicate the requirement of an oil change, “in Sioux Lookout we recommend doing the oil changes every 5000 kilometers, if you want your vehicle to get the most kilometers out of it as possible.”
Jaworski explained that it takes about 20 minutes to warm up the vehicle to temperature, and another 20 minutes before the vehicle will start to eliminate condensation in the oil. So, anyone who may only be driving short distances is recommended a more frequent oil change. Jaworski and Armstrong suggested that as long as one has been following the manufacturer’s recommendations, doing timely checks, their vehicle should be good for the winter.
While trying to maintain good health and proper vehicle conditions, our pets, must also be kept in consideration. The Chair of Sioux Looks Out for Paws, Lynda Ducharme said, “A lot of people don’t think about things like, not every pet is built to tolerate the cold and even ones that can, they can’t tolerate it for long periods of time.” She added, “A lot of people think that because they have huskies that they can be out all night, and they can’t.”
Ducharme suggested people take shorter walks with their pets during extreme cold. She added that it is important to make sure that pets are not left in the car without any heat on, and to be mindful of cats that may have climbed up next to the car’s engine for warmth.
Ducharme said, “A lot of animals die every year from antifreeze because people put it in their windshield wipers, the fluid gets in the snow and then the animals eat the snow and it almost instantly kills them. Same with the salts that they use on the road, those are poisonous to the animals, people don’t realize that.” She shared that on their recent calls for rescue, the animal rescue organization found two puppies frozen to death and two kittens with their tail and feet frozen. Ducharme advises people to keep their animals indoors and safe during the colder months.