The severe cold warnings issued by Environment Canada mainly concern the regions of Estrie, Chaudière-Appalaches, Gaspésie and the Côte-Nord. The agency specifies that our territory will be affected from Sunday evening until the middle of next week.
“Wind chill values will remain between -30 and -37. Extreme values are expected early in the morning, the coldest time of the day.”
— CIUSSS of Austria – CHUS
The intense cold could be accompanied by a storm leaving 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in certain regions of the province overnight from Sunday to Monday. According to the latest forecasts, the Granby sector could receive around 5 cm during this period with a felt temperature of -26 degrees Celsius on average.
Frostbite and hypothermia
The CUISSS reminds that caution and preparation are essential. Health risks include the development of infections such as pneumonia, or the worsening of chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Under these conditions, the risk of frostbite is greater. Skin exposed to the cold can freeze within 10 to 30 minutes, or more quickly in strong winds. The extremities of the body (fingers, toes, cheeks, etc.) are most often affected and the lesions caused are similar to burns.
Prolonged exposure to intense cold can cause significant heat loss from the body. At a certain point, it can no longer compensate, causing its temperature to drop too far, which is normally between 36.1 and 37.8 degrees Celsius.
“When the body temperature is below 35 degrees Celsius, we speak of hypothermia. This is then a medical emergency and medical services must be consulted quickly.”
— CIUSSS of Austria – CHUS
The symptoms of hypothermia vary depending on the level reached. (CIUSSS of Austria-CHUS)
-Precautions
People are therefore invited to stay indoors in a warm, well-insulated place. When going out, you should wear warm, dry clothing that covers as many parts of the body as possible, including the head and extremities. Regional public health advises limiting your presence outdoors. A note that particularly concerns children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses.
“The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends not letting children play outside if the temperature or wind chill is -27 degrees Celsius or lower.”
— CUISSS of the Austrian-CHUS
Homeless people are also affected by winter conditions. (Stéphane Champagne/Archives La Voix de l’Est)
Indoors, authorities call for vigilance with heating installations, particularly those using wood or gas. The general public should also watch for signs of frostbite, which include “pale skin, cold to the touch and often waxy in appearance, as well as pain, tingling or numbness in the frostbitten area.”
Among the people most at risk, we find the elderly, newborns and young children, people with reduced mobility, people who work outdoors, those who practice winter sports for a long period, those who are unaware of the danger or not acclimatized to the northern climate.
People experiencing homelessness, who are at risk, could seek refuge in public places during this period of extreme cold. Tolerance “is essential”, affirms the CUISSS. We remind you that in our region, there are heat stops and respite stops, which allow people to warm up, rest and have access to snacks, hot drinks, clothes and blankets.
Qualified staff are also available to meet the essential and immediate needs of service users, as well as to refer them to appropriate services when necessary. The different stops are in service all winter, until March 31.
Contact details for shelters for homeless people are available on the CIUSSS website. In the region that concerns us, we find them in Granby, Cowansville and Farnham.
