Cold Stress – Part 4

Now that we have all the scary stuff out of the way… Let’s talk about prevention. The most important way to prevent any of these cold stress illnesses is to be prepared. Dress appropriately for the conditions you’re working in, try to stick to the three layer rule. You want to make sure if you do get warm while working, you can take off a layer. You need to avoid sweating in the cold. Try and pick the appropriate materials, wool is a good one but steer clear of cotton and goose down. Be sure that your bottom layer is not too tight, this could cause restricted blood flow. This goes for your socks too, if they are too tight or you’re cramming too many pairs into your boots, you may be causing more harm than good. Make sure to wear something warm on your hands, face, feet and especially your head. You can lose so much body heat from your head… So put a toque on under your lid. During these cold months bring extra clothes and socks to site with you in case you get wet. If you have extra boots, it’s not a bad idea to bring them as well. If you don’t and your boots do get wet, put them over the heat vent during coffee and lunch breaks to dry them out. Stay hydrated and avoid caffeinated beverages. (I know this is easier said than done, but try and limit your coffee intake). Look, I get it… working in the cold sucks! But we can’t avoid working in extreme weather unless we move or change careers, but we can protect ourselves from getting seriously injured or even dying. And hey… what would we complain about all winter if it wasn’t the cold?