‘Be well covered up’: Montrealers ready to brave polar vortex

Montrealers are bracing for a polar vortex, with temperatures feeling like minus-40 in some areas of Quebec.

The polar vortex is expected to linger until Wednesday.

“No matter how long you have to go outside for, if it’s just for a quick air, or get something to the car, go to the mailbox, whatever it is, just be well covered up,” said Stephanie Ogé, a health communication centre supervisor with Urgences-santé.

“If it’s necessary to go outside, if you must go outside, then do so, but do it while maybe accompanied with someone and not to venture into isolated area in case of an emergency should occur.”

CityNews spoke with Hydro-Québec and Urgences-santé on how Montrealers can prepare for the cold spell. Both services suggest setting up emergency kits, stocking up food, and monitoring their energy and electricity use. 

The public utility recorded a historic peak of energy consumption two years ago during the last polar vortex, when Quebecers consumed 43,124 megawatts of energy.

“What we’re expecting is around 41,000 megawatts on Tuesday morning and around 42,000 megawatts on Wednesday morning,” said Cendrix Bouchard, a spokesperson at Hydro-Québec. “This is between six and nine in the morning. Those peak hours are related to the fact that nights are gonna be very cold.”

The Crown corporation says electricity is often used more during the cold, and it encourages Montrealers to help by reducing their heat by one to two degrees for a few hours. 

“It won’t affect your comfort so much, it’s only a few hours,” said Bouchard. “It will make a very small difference for you, but globally on the whole Hydro-Québec network, it’s gonna make a huge difference.”

Urgences-santé recommends that you be well-dressed for the weather conditions, and to monitor hypothermia and frostbite – with symptoms being redness, tingling, and sensation of numbness.

“Our role right now is to be vocal about that situation, being very present in order to give out those recommendation and advice,” said Ogé. “So, on our end, we’re very proactive in assessing our staffing, making sure that we have enough responders, paramedics and emergency medical dispatcher over the phone to answer calls in case there might be a sudden volume of calls and emergency situation.”

“In Canada, we can have a certain number of health problems that are linked to significant exposure to extreme cold. We know of injuries such as frostbite, especially in the extremities, and in more serious situations there is hypothermia, which is when the body temperature drops dangerously low. This can lead to death, for example if someone falls asleep outside,” said Stephanie Susser, medical advisor at the Public Health Department of the CISSS de Laval.

Among those at greater risk of injury or illness during extreme cold, Health Canada is targeting the homeless, people who work outdoors, people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and blood vessel diseases, babies under one year old and seniors aged 65 and over. Everyone, but especially these individuals, should take precautions if they find themselves outdoors during the polar vortex.

“It’s OK to exercise and walk outside, it’s just that you have to plan for a more limited amount of time and dress in layers,” said Dr. Susser. “The top layer should be waterproof and windproof, and the body should be dry. Make sure to cover your head, nose, hands and feet.”

The extremities of the body are particularly susceptible to frostbite as the body seeks to conserve heat for vital organs. 

On the other hand, alcohol does not help keep warm, contrary to popular belief. Alcoholic beverages promote vasodilation which will cause the person drinking alcohol to lose more heat. 

“It can also make pre-existing health conditions like asthma and chronic bronchitis worse,” said Dr. Susser. People with asthma should keep their medication close by. 

According to the Institut de la santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), cold temperatures increase the risk of mortality and diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases. 

People with cardiovascular problems are particularly at risk of developing a complication if they are outside on cold winter days. Dr. Susser gives the example of someone shoveling snow who could have a heart attack. “That’s because the body is already working very hard when you’re shoveling or doing physical work, but to warm up the body outside when it’s very cold, your body has to work even harder,” said Dr. Susser. 

To keep their cottages warm, many people will resort to generators or wood-burning fireplaces. Dr. Susser warns of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. “During very cold periods, rather than having frostbite and hypothermia, we could have carbon monoxide poisoning in the emergency room, and that can be very dangerous,” she said. 

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. A person who inhales it can lose consciousness and, within a relatively short period of time, die. Gasoline-powered appliances should not be plugged indoors. “Wood fireplaces, too, if poorly maintained, can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in a family’s home,” warned Dr. Susser.

CityNews spoke with some new Montrealers who are experiencing their first winter as newcomers to the country, and how they’re preparing for even colder temperatures in the coming days.

“A lot of people wear light jackets because they think it looks better, I think it’s just better to wear a heavy winter jacket,” one person said.

“It’s really cold, but it’s dry. It’s not like a humid weather, so you don’t feel the cold as in you’re shivering,” said another. “It’s more as in it’s hurting.”

“So cold, and we feel freezing,” added a third. “We are from Mexico. In Mexico it’s cold, but not that cold like this.” 

–With files from La Presse Canadienne