AHS provides tips to protect people from frostbite and hypothermia

The extreme cold temperatures we have been experiencing lately in Southern Alberta can affect people quite quickly including the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Officials from Alberta Health Services offered up some tips on how to best protect yourself from these dangerous situations when you’re out braving the cold weather.

“We always ask people to dress in several layers of clothing and just ensure that internal layers are covering the body and are soft, and there are several layers of those. The most vulnerable areas of the human body to frostbite and to hypothermia are earlobes, nose and face, cheeks, fingertips and toes. So it’s very important to pay special attention to your shoes and try to cover your hands with gloves. And also cover your face with something it can protect from cold weather such as a scarf,” says Ellina Lytvyak, the medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services South Zone.

Officials from AHS also warned about frost nip which is extremely cold but not yet frozen skin. You can move to a warmer environment and gently take the chill off the affected area through skin-to-skin contact.