Posted on: December 21, 2022
Environment Canada has issued an Artic outflow warning for Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands for Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing bitter cold and strong winds.
An arctic front has brought in a cold airmass to the South Coast. Strong outflow winds are bringing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal normals resulting in wind chill values approaching minus 25 to minus 20 over the Greater Victoria and Southern Gulf Islands regions.
If outside, dress warmly in layers and stay dry. Cover as much exposed skin as possible to avoid frostbite. Ensure that shelter is provided for pets and outdoor animals. Be prepared for unusually cold temperatures and strong winds.
Arctic outflow warnings are issued when bitterly cold air flows from the interior to coastal communities and the outflow winds create wind chill values of -20 or less for 6 hours or more.
Potential Impacts for Island Health include:
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Increased pressure on emergency departments due to increased traffic incidents in difficult road conditions, traffic incidents, and increased slips/falls in icy conditions.
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Potential difficulties reaching clients for community care and outreach staff due to adverse weather/localised flooding.
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Potential difficulties for outpatients reaching facilities for scheduled treatment/diagnostic appointments.
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Potential difficulties for staff at outdoor clinics and sites. Increased risk of frostbite or hypothermia, appropriate clothing is necessary when outdoors.
Be aware of and prepared for difficult travel conditions.
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Be aware of our Ride-Share Resource and Snow rides available through our Vancouver Island Toyota 4X4 Club
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See Shift Into Winter with DriveBC, and Road Safety at Work
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Make a winter driving emergency kit for your vehicle – visit Transport Canada for more information.
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Take advantage of the free Winter Driving Safety Toolkit & Course from WorkSafeBC to implement a winter driving safety program for your team.
Island Health recognizes that bad weather may delay, or prevent employees from reporting for work. It is expected that employees will make every effort to attend work as scheduled. Employees absent from work as a result of inclement weather or similar uncontrolled circumstances will be considered to be on unpaid leave of absence, or if approved by the Manager, employees may use vacation or overtime. Please familiarize yourself with our Hazardous Weather Policy.
Monitor weather forecasts and warnings closely for updates:
If you have to work outside (from visiting clients to shoveling snow):
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Wear proper fitting, supportive footwear appropriate to the weather, and use extra caution when entering or exiting a vehicle.
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Wear warm head covering.
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Layer clothing to allow sweat to escape and trap heat.
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Protect hands and feet. Wear waterproof boots and always wear gloves or mittens.
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Pace any vigorous work with scheduled breaks away from the cold. Fatigue is a risk factor in the cold.
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Stay hydrated. Limit the amount of coffee or tea and avoid alcohol.
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When possible, heat the working environment. For example, heated shelters help protect construction workers from cold and damp environments.
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See more here: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/hazards-exposures/cold-stress
Please see these other resources for work and home: