TORONTO, Jan. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Based on information from Environment Canada, Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, has issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert today for Toronto that will be in effect until further notice, as very low temperatures are expected overnight.
Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health. Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 35°C and can have severe consequences, including organ failure and death. Frostnip and frostbite can also occur in cold weather when skin freezes.
During extreme cold weather, residents are encouraged to call or visit vulnerable friends, neighbours and family to ensure they are not experiencing any difficulties related to the weather. Those most at risk of cold-related illness are people who work outdoors, people with a pre-existing heart conditions or respiratory illness, those taking certain medications, infants and young children, and those who are homeless. People with heart problems can experience worsening of their condition up to several days after cold weather occurs.
This alert triggers cold weather services for homeless people, including two 24-hour drop-ins, additional shelter beds, TTC tokens for people to get to shelter, increased street outreach, and a direction to shelters to relax any service restrictions in place. More information on the City's cold weather services are available at: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=d81ed4b4920c0410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, members of the public are encouraged to take the following precautions:
- Dress in layers, making sure your outer layer is windproof, and cover exposed skin.
- Wear a hat, warm mittens or gloves, and warm boots.
- Stay dry. Your risk of hypothermia is much greater if you are wet.
- Choose wool or synthetic fabrics for your clothes instead of cotton, because cotton stops keeping you warm once it gets wet.
- Seek shelter if you normally spend long periods outside. Depending on the wind chill, exposed skin can freeze in minutes.
- Avoid alcohol as it increases blood flow. You may feel warm even though you are losing body heat.
- Consider rescheduling outdoor activities, or limiting time outdoors, especially if it's windy.
- Heat your home to at least 21ºC if babies or elderly people are present.
If you see someone on the street who needs outreach assistance – which may include a shelter bed due to the cold temperatures – call 311. For medical emergencies, call 911.
More information and tips for staying warm during extremely cold weather are available at http://www.toronto.ca/health.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
SOURCE City of Toronto
For further information: Media contacts: Keisha Mair, Toronto Public Health, 416-338-8020 (weekdays), 416-737-2524 (weekends), [email protected]; Pat Anderson, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, 416-397-4328, [email protected]
"TORONTO, Jan 3, 2016 (CNN) - Kulingana na habari kutoka Mazingira Canada, Daktari David McKeown, Afisa wa Afya wa Toronto, ametoa ""Alert ya Hali ya Hewa ya Baridi sana"" leo kwa Toronto ambayo itakuwa inatumika hadi taarifa zaidi, kama joto la chini sana linatarajiwa usiku." Kuathiriwa na hali ya hewa baridi kunaweza kuharibu afya yako. Hypothermia ni hali ya mwili ambayo hutokea wakati joto la mwili linaposhuka chini ya 35 ° C na inaweza kuwa na matokeo mabaya, ikiwa ni pamoja na kushindwa kwa viungo na kifo. Pia, ugonjwa huo wa baridi kali na baridi kali waweza kutokea wakati wa baridi kali wakati ngozi inapokuwa na baridi kali. Wakati wa hali ya hewa ya baridi kali, wakazi wanahimizwa kupiga simu au kutembelea marafiki, majirani na familia zilizo hatarini ili kuhakikisha kuwa hawapatani na shida yoyote inayohusiana na hali ya hewa. Watu walio katika hatari kubwa ya kuugua homa ni wale wanaofanya kazi nje, watu walio na matatizo ya moyo au magonjwa ya kupumua, wale wanaotumia dawa fulani, watoto wachanga na watoto wadogo, na wale wasio na makao. Watu wenye matatizo ya moyo wanaweza kupata hali mbaya zaidi hadi siku kadhaa baada ya hali ya hewa baridi kutokea. Alama hii huamsha huduma za hali ya hewa baridi kwa watu wasio na makazi, ikiwa ni pamoja na kutua mara mbili kwa masaa 24, vitanda vya ziada vya makazi, ishara za TTC kwa watu kupata makazi, kuongezeka kwa ufikiaji wa mitaani, na mwelekeo wa makazi ya kupunguza vizuizi vyovyote vya huduma. Taarifa zaidi kuhusu huduma za hali ya hewa baridi zinapatikana kwenye: www.toronto.cawps.org.au.vgnexpoid.com Wakati wa tahadhari ya hali ya hewa baridi kali, watu wanahimizwa kuchukua tahadhari zifuatazo: - Vaa kofia, glavu au glavu zenye joto, na viatu vyenye joto. - Kukaa kavu. Hatari ya kupatwa na hypothermia ni kubwa zaidi ikiwa umekuwa umechoma. Chagua nguo za sufu au nyuzi za synthetic badala ya pamba, kwa sababu pamba huacha kukuweka moto mara tu inapokuwa mvua. - Tafuta kimbilio ikiwa kwa kawaida unatumia muda mrefu nje. Ikitegemea baridi ya upepo, ngozi iliyofunikwa yaweza kupoa kwa dakika chache tu. - Epuka kileo kwa sababu huongeza mtiririko wa damu. Unaweza kuhisi joto hata ingawa unapoteza joto la mwili. - Fikiria kupanga upya shughuli za nje, au kupunguza muda wa kuwa nje, hasa ikiwa kuna upepo. - Jitengenezee joto la chini ya 21C ikiwa kuna watoto wadogo au wazee. Ikiwa unaona mtu barabarani anayehitaji msaada wa nje - ambayo inaweza kujumuisha kitanda cha makazi kwa sababu ya joto la baridi - piga simu 311. Kwa ajili ya dharura za matibabu, piga simu 911. Maelezo zaidi na vidokezo vya jinsi ya kukaa joto wakati wa hali ya hewa baridi sana zinapatikana kwenye http: www.toronto.ca.health Toronto ni mji mkubwa wa Canada, wa nne kwa ukubwa katika Amerika ya Kaskazini, na nyumbani kwa idadi ya watu mbalimbali ya karibu milioni 2.8. Ni kituo cha kimataifa cha biashara, fedha, sanaa na utamaduni na ni mara kwa mara nafasi moja ya miji ya dunia zaidi ya kuishi. Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu huduma za jiji, wajumbe wa Toronto wanaweza kutembelea www.toronto.ca, piga simu 311, masaa 24 kwa siku, siku 7 kwa wiki, au tufuate @TorontoComms. Kwa habari zaidi, wasiliana na: Keisha Mair, Toronto Public Health, 416-338-8020 (siku za wiki), 416-737-2524 (miisho ya wiki), [email protected] Pat Anderson, Huduma ya Makazi, Msaada na Nyumba, 416-397-4328.