Peel Health recommends the following steps to be taken to prevent cold injuries:
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General Recommendations
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- Establish both a policy and plan to deal with
potential consequences of extreme
temperatures and winter storms (e.g. power
outage, lack of transportation). Have an
emergency kit available. (Licensed Facilities
presently follow the Ministry of Health and
Long Term Care Hot/Cold weather protocols).
- Maintain a heated environment at 20°C or
higher (Long-Term Care Facilities are
regulated at 22°C).
- Advise staff to avoid outdoor activities with
elderly/persons with disabilities when the
temperature is -25 degrees Celsius or colder,
with or without the wind chill. Some medical
conditions may increase sensitivity to cold.
- Educate staff who provide services to the
elderly/persons with disabilities on how to
prevent, recognize and treat cold injuries.
- Encourage the elderly/persons with
disabilities to drink warm fluids to prevent
dehydration.
- Ensure staff educate elderly/persons with
disabilities on how to protect their health
during extreme temperatures and what
services staff will provide.
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- Encourage elderly/persons with disabilities to
dress in layers of warm clothing, covering
exposed skin (socks, insulated coats and
boots- slip resistant/waterproof, mittens, hats,
neck warmers and face masks).
- Encourage elderly/persons with disabilities to
change wet clothing or footwear immediately.
- Ensure staff educate elderly/persons with
disabilities on the subject of safe travelling on
slippery/iced walkways.
- If applicable, implement plans or protocols to
contact the elderly/persons with disabilities
who live alone to make certain they are safe
(e.g. buddy systems).
- Ensure staff promote to elderly/persons with
disabilities the 'Meals on Wheels' advice to
"keep a spare meal".
- If possible, register known "wanderers"
in the Wanderer Registry Database - Peel
Police (applications can be obtained from
the Alzheimer's Society by calling
905-278-3667).
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During a Cold Alert
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Follow the General Guidelines AND
- Give warm fluids and avoid caffeinated beverages to prevent dehydration
- Remember to dress in layers of warm clothing
- Maintain a heated internal environment at 20° Celsius or higher
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- Keep the elderly/persons with disabilities indoors when the temperature is -25 or colder with or without wind chill
- Closely observe seniors that tend to wander away
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