The prolonged cold snap in Saskatchewan is bringing to light the dangers of being unprepared for the cold, especially for new residents not accustomed to prairie winters.<\/p>\n
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While the winter blues are certainly settling in, so too can frostbite if bare skin is exposed to the air for any length of time in this cold weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cRealistically, anything lower than zero degrees, you can obtain frostbite,\u201d Mike Schindel, the Medavie Health Services West operation manager said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTemperatures with the wind chill, when it hits to about -26 or so, that\u2019s what the wind chill. It can take easily 30 minutes. And you can get frostbite with that\u2026 it\u2019s usually the fingers, toes, the nose, cheeks and ears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mohamad Baydoun, a doctor at the University of Regina, said frostbite can be minor or severe and could require medical attention. He said newcomers to Saskatchewan need to be very careful.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey might be coming from climates where severe cold and heavy snow are uncommon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they are unaccustomed to cold temperatures and harsh winters, they probably underestimate how quickly frostbite can develop.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Schindel notes the most important thing is dressing for the weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can layer up that is the best thing,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you have some moisture-wicking material, you can wear that.<\/p>\n
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