Public Health Issues Frostbite Alert for Peterborough City & County

Written by admin, January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013 – The Peterborough Public Health has issued a Frostbite Alert beginning Monday evening (January 21) until Thursday morning (January 24) because of forecasted low wind chills of -31 Tuesday evening and -28 on Wednesday evening.

Extreme cold events are a potentially significant health risk and can have a severe impact on the health of vulnerable populations including infants, the elderly, people with circulatory problems, and the marginally housed. 

In order to protect the health of people in Peterborough County and City, Public Health advises local residents to take the following precautions:

• Check face and extremities frequently for signs of frostbite. Exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 to 30 minutes.
• Consider re-scheduling outdoor recreational activities on Tuesday and Wednesday night. There is a serious risk of hypothermia if outdoors for long periods.
• Check on the elderly or people with disabilities living alone.

Cold related illnesses include:

Hypothermia: 
Symptoms/signs include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling/uncoordinated
movements, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness.

Frostbite:          
Symptoms/signs include: white/greyish skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, or numbness.

Increases in other health problems can also be seen, especially for those with other chronic medical conditions such as heart conditions.

The following heated public facilities are available to local residents seeking a place to warm up: 

• Shelters – Brock Mission and the Youth Emergency Shelter.
• Lighthouse Community Drop-In Centre – St. John’s Anglican Church, Brock St. (daytime drop-in shelter)

 

Further information about the health risks of extreme cold and Public Health’s Extreme Cold Response Plan can be found on this website under “My Home & Environment” by clicking on “Extreme Weather – Cold”.

For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391