Winter Weather Safety Tips to Keep Warm this Winter

Take Precautions to Stay Safe & Healthy in Winter

Welcome to 2015!

We are a week into the New Year and the weather has become decidedly wintery. Snow squall warnings and cold weather alerts have blanketed the weather forecasts since the freezing rain warnings were lifted last weekend. As for today, the CLC crews have put down the chainsaws. The weather is not fit for arborists nor the vehicles they drive in London, Ontario. Watch those roads people!

So with highways closed around the city and police asking folks to stay off the roads, CLC Tree Services has abided by the requests. With temperatures feeling like they are in the range of -20°C  to -30°C, we are more than happy to oblige. When the outside world is your workplace, you need to take safety precautions into consideration. How do you do that?

Winter Weather Safety Tips for Extreme Cold

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  While facial hair might protects some skin, a scarf wouldn’t hurt either Calvin

  Limit the length of time you spend outside – exposed skin can freeze in 10-30 minutes when the wind chill is between -28° to -39°C

• Make sure to wear protective clothing – hats, mitts or gloves, scarves, winter boots, etc.
• Cover any exposed skin to prevent frostbite
• Dress in layers – layers help to wick moisture away from your skin and insulate you from the cold.
  • the inner layer should wick moisture away from you skin and quickly evaporate – think synthetics or wool
  • the insulating layer keeps moving that moisture away from your body and provides a layer of insulation – choose wool or fleece
  • the outer layer protects you from the elements (wind, snow, sleet, etc) – it should be windproof, waterproof and breathable to let excess heat and moisture evaporate
• Avoid strenuous exercise as much as possible
• Drink plenty of warm fluids, avoiding alcohol or caffeinated beverages
• Watch for signs of hypothermia or frostbite;
  • frostbite – a loss of feeling and colour in toes, fingers, ears, nose and other extremities; skin goes from red to blue or white and appears waxy and firm
  • hypothermia – when your body dips below a safe temperature uncontrollable shivering, confusion, drowsiness, memory loss, and slurred speech can occur
  • Seek immediate medical help if you exhibit any signs of frostbite or hypothermia

On that note, I think we will just stay inside where it is nice and warm today. How do you stay warm in the winter?