Breadcrumb
Cold Weather
Be safe when the weather gets cold. Be aware of cold advisories in our region, and how cold impacts health.

Cold and winter weather overview
In the last 10 years the Interior Health (IH) region has experienced significant damaging climate-related hazards that are secondary to global warming and climate change. The overall changing climate trend drives extreme weather events such as heat, wildfires, flooding and cold.
Winter weather can affect your safety in different ways: snow, rain and ice can cause transportation challenges and increase the risk of slips and falls. Power outages can disrupt communication, the heat in your home and access to food and water. It is easy to get cold quickly if you are outside in wet, cold and windy weather. Exposure to cold temperatures can lead to frostbite or hypothermia.
Cold weather poses significant health challenges. These challenges impact many community members, and disproportionately impact marginalized residents, such as the unhoused population.
To access weather information and alerts for the Interior region, please visit the
Environment Canada website or download the WeatherCAN app or Alertable.
Preparing and responding to cold weather
Get prepared for winter weather and storms
Severe winter weather and storm preparedness guide.
Preparing for cold weather events
Get prepared for power outages
Severe weather can cause power outages. Be prepared for up to one week by developing a household emergency plan and putting together an emergency kit. If you encounter a downed or damaged power line, assume it is live and a danger. Stay back at least 10 metres (the length of a bus) and call 911 immediately to report it.
Winterize your home
Now is a good time to winterize your home by insulating walls and attics, weather-stripping doors and windows, clearing rain gutters and removing tree branches that could fall during windstorms.
Tips to protect yourself
- Bringing an emergency kit if you are going into the backcountry so you are prepared for conditions.
- Head for shelter that will protect from wind and rain.
- Avoid too much activity and sweating.
- Avoid touching metal.
- Eat and drink water.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
- Wear proper clothing and keep hands and feet dry.
- Cover your head and body by wearing a hat and layers of tightly woven fabrics such as wool or synthetics.
- Cover up exposed areas such as your fingers, cheeks, ears, and nose.
- Mittens are better than gloves at keeping hands warm and dry
- Dress in layers so that you can adjust to changes as you heat up or cool off.
- Don’t wear tight fitting clothing or footwear that may impair circulation.
- Wear glasses or goggles if you are planning outdoor activities.
- If your clothes get wet, change into dry clothes as soon as possible.
- Bring additional warm clothing when going out for extended periods or in case of emergency.
- Talk to your health care professional to see if you are at an increased risk from extreme cold due to a medical condition.
- If you have health problems such as a heart condition you may wish to avoid strenuous activities like shovelling snow.
- Please ensure to have carbon monoxide detector in your indoor space (Look for ones with a Canadian certification mark (e.g. CSA, cUL, ULC or cETL).
Watch for those who are vulnerable, especially the unhoused population. Keep an eye out for community members who may ne under dressed for the weather and/or looking unwell.
For those with Alzheimer’s, wandering can be dangerous during times of cold weather.
Get prepared for winter weather and storms
PDF handbook: Severe winter weather and storm preparedness guide (gov.bc.ca)
Warming centres and shelters
Warming centres may be opened for the public by First Nations and local governments in response to cold events.
Temporary winter shelters and extreme weather response shelter spaces are funded by BC Housing and operated by community partners for people experiencing homelessness.
During cold weather events, emergency warming centres and general warming spaces locations may be listed on EmergencyMapBC.ca at the discretion of First Nations and local governments. If warming centres are not listed on the map in your area, contact your Band office or local government.
Cold weather and health impacts
Cold weather events can challenge anyone to stay safe and warm. Data from emergency departments showed that within the IH region, most cases of hypothermia occurred at temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius (°C) or colder. If a person is not able to be sufficiently protected from exposure to the cold air or wet weather for prolonged periods, an individual’s body temperature can drop and cause cold related injuries and hypothermia.
Contact a healthcare provider, or call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1, if you are experiencing mild, cold-related illness. Call 9-1-1 in case of medical emergency.
If you think someone may be hypothermic:
- If they are cold, shivering, alert and complaining - call 8-1-1 for advice.
- Take the person's temperature, if possible. If it is below 35°C (95°F), the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately- call 9-1-1.
- A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the person gently, call 9-1-1 and get emergency assistance immediately.
- Call 9-1-1 if in doubt about whether a person has hypothermia
Vulnerable population
Vulnerable populations include anyone exposed to cold weather conditions that may experience cold-related injuries.
Some people are at higher risk for frostbite, hypothermia and other impacts, including:
- Unhoused populations (those who are unsheltered or living in places not intended for permanent human habitation)
- People who use substances, including alcohol, that modify their ability to feel the effects of cold exposure or to respond and modify their exposure to cold conditions
- People who are not dressed properly
- People who are wearing wet clothing or have wet skin
- People who spend long periods of time outdoors for work or recreation
- People living in housing without adequate insulation or without the ability to generate enough heat
- People with disabilities, limited mobility, or certain medical conditions such as: diabetes, peripheral neuropathy (muscle weakness, tingling, numbness), fatigue, dehydration , and diseases affecting the blood vessels
- People taking certain medications including beta-blockers
- Seniors (over 60 years of age), infants and young children
Cold weather injuries
Frostbite is when your body is exposed to the cold for a long period of time, restricting blood flow to your hands, feet, nose, and ears. The combination of poor circulation and cold can lead to frostbite.
Affected body parts:
- hands
- feet
- nose
- ears
All frostbite should be evaluated by a health care provider. Start warming the frostbite impacted area of skin when you know the person will be able to stay warm for a significant period of time to avoid greater damage.
With mild frostbite skin can look yellowish or white but it is still soft to the touch.
Recommended actions of mild frostbite:
- Passive warming - move to a warm room, wrap yourself in blankets or reheat your body by skin-to-skin contact by placing the affected body part under the armpit for example.
- Active warming - This should be done at a health care facility under care of a physician where they may warm the frostbitten area. Thawing frostbitten skin could be painful. Do not rub, massage or shake the injured skin because that can cause more damage.
In severe cases, skin may be more discolored or turning black. You may experience loss of sensation and see blistering.
Severe frostbite requires immediate medical attention. While you are waiting for help to arrive begin treating it with passive and active warming.
Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature. There are three stages to hypothermia.
Stage one -
Shivering, goose bumps on your skin, and numbness of extremities. Your breath can become quick and shallow, and you may feel tired and/or sick to your stomach.
Recommended actions:
- Find shelter
- Keep your muscles moving
- Keep your body dry and (gradually) warm your body
- Wrap yourself in blankets/dry clothing
- Reheat your body by skin-to-skin contact with another person
- Drink warm, sweet liquids
- Don't fight shivering, this is one of the ways your body increases its core temperature
- If you are with someone who is unconscious lay them down and avoid shaking them or handling them roughly as they may have an arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)
Stage two -
Shivering is more aggressive. Muscles are uncoordinated and movements are slow and laboured. You may suffer mild confusion, become pale, and your lips, ears, fingers, and toes may turn blue.
Please seek immediate medical attention and/or call 911 .
Stage three -
If body temperatures drop below 32ºC the shivering will stop but a person may have trouble speaking, thinking, and walking. They may even develop confusion or loss of memory. When the body temperature drops below 30ºC (86.0ºF) exposed skin becomes blue and puffy, it will be hard to move muscles and behavior becomes irrational and more confused. A person's heart may be beating quickly but the pulse and breathing will decrease. At this stage there is a risk of dying. In the most severe cases, there may be symptoms of unconsciousness, no pulse, or not breathing.
Please seek immediate medical emergency and/or call 911
While waiting for medical care, begin warming yourself or the person you are with, as follows:
- Get into a warm room or shelter.
- Remove any wet clothing.
- Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket (if available), warm water bottles, heating packs, and reflective blankets. Or in situations where external sources of heat are unavailable use body heat under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
- Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
After body temperature has increased, stay dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.
More resources:
Windburn occurs when cold wind removes the top layer of oil from the skin causing:
- excessive dryness
- redness
- soreness
- itchiness
Recommended actions:
- Do not scratch or rub the affected area as it can damage the skin.
- Apply a protective skin care product (e.g. therapeutic moisturizers) to the affected area(s) as needed to help relieve the symptoms of windburn.
- Use a protective lip balm to treat lips.
Cold weather can aggravate certain respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. The health of those with cardiovascular illnesses can also worsen due to cold. People with angina or those who have already suffered a heart attack or stroke can experience worsening of symptoms such as:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Increased blood pressure
The shorter, darker days of winter can get us down. Winters can be colder than usual, and people can feel more isolated if it is not safe to go out.
Staying indoors most of the time can make us feel tired and lower our mood and self-esteem. Here are some tips to stay positive in the winter season.
Learn about diagnosis and treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder from HealthLinkBC.
Support and resources:
- Mental Health Services & Resources | Health & Wellness | IH (interiorhealth.ca)
- Mental Health & Substance Use | Interior Health
- Interior health crisis response line: Crisis Response | Service Listing | Ih (interiorhealth.ca)
Preparation to cold weather
- BC Gov news | People encouraged to prepare for winter weather
- PreparedBC – Severe Weather Checklist
- RoadSafetyBC – Preparing Your Vehicle
- Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness
Health and cold related injuries
- Your health this winter | HealthLinkBC
- Cold Temperature Exposure | HealthLink BC
- Health Canada – Health Risks of Extreme Cold
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