Battling the Deep Freeze: Staying Safe in Saskatchewan’s Harsh Cold Snap

Unprecedented Cold Front Grips Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Braces for -55 Windchill

As Saskatchewan and Saskatoon face an unprecedented cold snap, with temperatures plummeting to -55 due to windchill, it’s crucial for residents and their furry friends to be well-prepared. Frostbite and hypothermia are serious concerns in such extreme conditions, but with proper awareness and precautions, everyone can weather the storm safely. Always use a buddy system, and keep a cell phone in a warm pocket in case of emergency.

Did you know that in temperatures ranging from -28 to -39 degrees Celsius, there’s a high risk of exposed skin freezing in as little as 10 to 30 minutes? Check out these windchill freezing times

Recognizing and Mitigating Frostbite and Hypothermia: A Guide for Humans

When temperatures dip to extreme lows, the risk of frostbite and hypothermia skyrockets. Recognizing the warning signs and taking immediate action is key to preventing serious consequences such as amputation of extremities.

Frostbite tends to impact body parts with limited blood flow, typically those farther from the body’s core. Commonly affected areas include fingertips, toes, earlobes, cheeks, chin, and the tip of the nose. Cold injuries come in three degrees: frostnip, superficial frostbite, and deep frostbite. While individuals with circulatory issues, children, and older adults face higher risks, the majority of cases occur in adults aged 30 to 49. 

Frostbite:

• Early Signs: Numbness, tingling, or pain in extremities (fingers, toes, nose, ears).
• Advanced Signs: Skin turning pale, hard, and cold to the touch.
• Mitigation: Seek shelter immediately, remove wet clothing, and gradually warm the affected area with warm (not hot) water.

Hypothermia:

• Early Signs: Shivering, fatigue, confusion, and slurred speech.
• Advanced Signs: Weak pulse, shallow breathing, and unconsciousness.
• Mitigation: Move to a warm place, remove wet clothing, and wrap in warm blankets. Seek medical attention promptly.

Stay Prepared with These Cold Weather Safety Tips:

1. Dress in layers to trap warmth and protect against wind.
2. Cover extremities, including fingers, toes, and ears.
3. Stay dry by wearing waterproof outer layers.
4. Keep active to generate body heat, but avoid overexertion.
5. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed warnings.

Protecting Your Furry Friends: Dogs in the Deep Freeze

Dogs, especially those deemed “outdoor dogs,” are also susceptible to the harsh cold. Recognizing signs of frostbite and hypothermia in your canine companions is vital.

Frostbite in Dogs:

• Warning Signs: Pale or discolored skin, cold ears and paws, shivering.
• Mitigation: Bring your dog indoors, warm them up gradually, and consult a vet.

Hypothermia in Dogs:

• Warning Signs: Weakness, lethargy, slowed heart rate.
• Mitigation: Move your dog to a warm area, wrap them in blankets, and seek veterinary assistance.

Protecting Outdoor Dogs:

1. Provide adequate shelter with insulation and heating to protect your dog against the cold.
2. Use heated water bowls to prevent freezing.
3. Dress your dog in a well-fitted coat for added warmth.
4. Limit outdoor exposure during extreme cold.
5. Monitor paw and ear health and use pet-friendly de-icing products.
6. Putting paw mittens, socks, or booties on your dog’s feet is a great way to shield their paw pads, preventing snow clumping and ice ball formation between their toe pads, ultimately ensuring the safety and comfort of their feet.

As Saskatchewan battles the bitter cold, it’s essential for residents to stay vigilant, take necessary precautions, and extend the same care to their four-legged friends. With proper awareness and preparedness, everyone can navigate the freezing temperatures safely and emerge unscathed from this deep freeze.

Here are some extra resources to help you stay safe in the midst of the extreme cold enveloping Saskatchewan.

Winter Clothing Ideas

How could you best pack your car for a cold weather emergency? Preparing an Emergency Kit for Your Car Add in a wool blanket or sleeping bag with an R value 5+

Brutal cold snap hits province, City of Saskatoon activates emergency response plan

<a href="http://Regina schools take precautions to ensure kids’ safety during cold snap

Wind chill of -50, 40 cm of snow: Here’s Canada’s weather forecast for the week

From wind chills of -55 C to 40 cm of snow, weather warnings in place for much of Canada

Extreme cold engulfs the Prairies, temperatures dive into the -30s

Heavy snow blasts Prairies before polar vortex plunges region into deep freeze

Windchill The Chilling Facts Environment Canada

Saskatchewan to see windchill temperatures drop as low as -55 this week Global News January 7

Frostbite and hypothermia are cold-related emergencies that may quickly become life or limb threatening.

How to stay safe and prepare for freezing temperatures The coldest air for the Northeast will hit Saturday morning. ABC News

WindChill Safety National Weather Service

Frost bite Red Cross

WindChill Index Government of Canada Seven steps to cold weather safety

Cold Environments Working in the Cold Government of Canada Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety CCOHS

Frost bite in dogs VCA Animal Hospitals How is frostbite treated?

How cold is too cold for your dog? PetMD

11 Winter Weather Tips : As Told by Adorable Dogs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Winter Weather Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Pet safety during cold weather: Animals can suffer frostbite and hypothermia despite fur coats

For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
YouTube
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker!

Extreme Cold Weather and Your Pet

Winter and Your Pet

Protect your dog in the severe cold winter weather warnings.

Cold weather provides its own set of challenges and opportunities.

Remember both ice and frozen water pose a hazard for you and your pets. If you put “Booties” on your dog, remember they have no nails to gain purchase if the ice breaks, and they fall into the water. The South Saskatchewan River is swiftly flowing under the ice, and can take your pet away quickly.  The river is not the only hazard, any slough or wetlands area, also pose risks to your pet. If your pet is lucky and gains traction on the ice, and can pull themselves out of the water, they risk hypothermia, or a pulled muscle.  It is best to monitor where your dog is outdoors, and keep them away from frozen ice and shorelines.

Carbon monoxide from vehicles stays low in the air. Take care to place your pet on leash in parking lots and  roadways, to ensure their safety outdoors so they are kept away from poisonous fumes.

Protect your dog in the severe cold winter weather warnings.

Before you take your pet out for an off leash walk when the windchill is -30 or below, make sure you have acclimatized them to the weather with regular daily walks, so their fur growth will protect them. Those indoor puppies, dogs with less cold tolerance may appreciate a sweater and / or a dog jacket for those outdoor trips to “do business”.

It is at this time of the year when your dog’s paws are very sensitive to the snow build up between the pads and toes of their paws. If the snow is fresh “snowman” making snow and clumps easily, your dog will love you if you get them used to wearing booties. For very cold weather, booties will also prevent ice, frozen snow or salt from cutting their paws and pads. If your dog stops moving on the walk, check their paws for ice and snow build up; remove your own mittens, and hold their paw in your hand to melt the ice pack build up.

Protect your dog in the severe cold winter weather warnings.

If your dog shows signs of being too cold on a walk, sit or lie down with them so they can warm from your body heat. Or when you get home place warm water [not scalding hot water] in a large plastic water bottle similar to a 2 litre pop bottle. Wrap two bottles in a towel, and cuddle your dog beside them in their indoor kennel. Cover your pooch with a warm blanket.

For pets which are considered to have enough fur to be left outdoors, provide the right sized insulated kennel. Heaters and light bulbs could be used for warmth, installed into the kennel wisely so they don’t cause burns to your dog. Under the cushion bedding and rug placed on the kennel floor, buy a roll of “Reflective Foil Double Bubble Foil Insulation‎.” This insulation shield can even be stapled into place, and your outdoor dog will love you. This will provide an amazing “R” value, and reflects your dogs heat back to their body. Outdoor pets will also require water, which will also need to be heated as an outdoor dog, will not get enough fluids from snow or licking ice. Additionally, an outdoor dog will require extra good quality food during the winter months to keep them healthy. When the weather news reports bring in severe cold weather warnings, it may indeed, be time for your outside dog, to receive extra loving attention, and be brought indoors for protection.

Protect your dog in the severe cold winter weather warnings.

Just as humans can get frost bite, so can your pet. Know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Especially susceptible to frost bite are dog breeds with upright ears. Tails and paws are the next smallest areas of the body in which ice crystals may form causing frostbite. Take care that these delicate small areas of your pet do not get frostbite which can be very painful to your pet. If your pet does get frostbite, take them into the vet immediately for proper care, the right method of thawing out, and first aid. By the same token, smaller breeds of dogs, elderly, sickly dogs or young puppies are much more sensitive to the cold than a large heavily muscled dog.

Monitor their behaviour outdoors. Even though they may have booties to protect their paws from injury and frostbite, and be decked out in sweater and jacket, it is very hard to wrap a scarf around a dog to protect their respiratory tract.  Your dog will love you if you take precautions, and you should never have to confess that you did not know the hazards of severe and extreme cold weather and how it affects your pet.

Take care, and have fun out there!

“I pray this winter be gentle and kind–a season of rest from the wheel of the mind.”–John Geddes

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area,  George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

Please help protect / enhance /commemorate your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)

Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year).  Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers  Please and thank you!  Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated.  Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

Paypal

Payment Options

Membership : $20.00 CAD – yearly Membership with donation : $50.00 CAD Membership with donation : $100.00 CAD

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“St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger

“We forget that we owe our existence to the presence of Trees. As far as forest cover goes, we have never been in such a vulnerable position as we are today. The only answer is to plant more Trees – to Plant Trees for Our Lives.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker

“Act. Don’t react. See a need, fix it first. Worry about the details later. If you wait until you are asked you have just missed a golden opportunity. They are fleeting and rare.” Philip Wollen founder of Winsome Kindness Trust

 

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“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker