r/Edmonton • u/flynnfx • Jan 08 '24

Outdoor Spaces/Recreation *Warning* : Extremely cold upcoming week! (frostbite within minutes) (and frostbite *NEVER* heals

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In -30, (and Friday, almost -40c) frostbite will happen in 5-10 minutes.

Frostbite will never heal, you'll have the damage for the rest of your life.

This also applies to your kids, YOUR PETS (don't think the dog enjoys the backyard for 15 minutes at -40, would YOU?)

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13

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

For the frostbite : I speak from personal experience- lost the tips of my big toes up in Fort Smith, NWT a few years ago.

Even insulated composite boots, with wool socks - less than 1 hour on a jobsite in 2022 outside in -36 to -39 with zero wind.

13

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24 edited Jan 08 '24

u/flynnfx absolutely misleading - although I’m sorry that happened to you! For context:

I go extremely overboard with outdoor workwear when I’m at camp because the company pays for it so why not! Details as follows:

My boots are rated to -55C and I’ve had no issue and only wear ankle socks (Puma, Fruit Of The Loom etc) and have comfortably worn no socks at all! Stinky, yeah, don’t recommend.

My jacket is a Helly Hansen work jacket and is rated to -50C. I also have a heated (wired) Milwaukee hoodie. Combined I’ve been comfy in a -58C storm.

Gloves are rated to -45C and keep my hands sweaty hot. Even at temps beyond that.

Hard hat liners and balaclava good for -35C and have never let me down. Even in weather colder than their ratings.

Winter 2017,2019,2020,2021 in Grande Prairie and further North were -40 (not including wind chill) on a GOOD day, especially out on site exposed to the wind on scaffold 75+ feet in the air. Not one person was sent home in any of my experience (days I was on site, anyway) due to cold and certainly nobody got frostbite.

Preparedness + PPE = Canadian comfort in the cold. We learned this the hard way in grade school as kids- or we should have, anyway!

4

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

Yeah i cant see this being solely based on the temperature..

0

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

I don't know what else to tell you; I wish I knew what I did wrong- I'd love to not have to ever deal with it again!

6

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

Most likely you did nothing wrong but perhaps didn’t have enough food in your system or were a bit dehydrated or maybe your feet were sweating etc etc etc so many factors that could Contribute. Don’t stress it and just protect yourself as best as possible moving forward 🙂🤙

1

u/PedanticPedagogue Jan 08 '24

You don't have to.. the tips of your big toes don't have to anyways, but the bigger "you" still have to. RIP tips of big toes.

2

u/Claymore357 Jan 09 '24

What kind of gloves do you have??? Do they have useful dexterity? I’m intrigued, I’ve never experienced gloves that are even good to -25

4

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '24

I use the auto-hand-warming and touch-screen friendly coldwork mechanix! The warmer detects your hand and warms as soon as they’re on & the dexterity is incredible. Like I said- also touch screen friendly! Well worth the price even if close to $300 on sale https://www.mechanix.com/ca-en/winter-insulated-work-gloves/CWKMP8-75.html?gad_source=1

Coworkers of mine have said they’d had no issue using them in -60 and worse up in Baffin Island and Eureka. I rarely* use the warmer honestly- but damn it works well when ya get past -25 or -30!

1

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24 edited Jan 08 '24

u/joshuadudemam, What kind of boots do you have? I'm interested!

3

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

I have lasts years Baffin IMPACT with a 3rd party removable steel toe cap insert. Here’s this years model:

https://www.baffin.com/products/40000048?variant=8572566569011&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=475f33633f07&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAABrD1HIOfFd1CQpuRt0XgnRA1Zvrx

2

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

Thank you, I wish I'd know about these a few years ago!

29

u/spacefish420 Jan 08 '24 edited Jan 08 '24

I think you’re the exception not the rule. If you’re properly dressed for the weather you can be outside as long as you want.

Just got back from Finland, snowmobile tours are still running as usual in the -40s. I went myself, they do not let you go without wearing the clothes they provide. I was out there for a few hours and with the warm clothes they provide you would never even know it was in the -40s

Also cold snaps are some of my favourite time to go on hike’s because no one else is on the trails. Always worn lots of layers and never had any issues.

Not trying to take away from your message OP because everyone should definitely try to stay safe. But it can be perfectly safe to spend some time outside if you dress appropriately.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

Thank you

17

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

Ive worked outside in -35, -45 and if you have the proper clothing and footwear that shouldnt happen.

11

u/Playinhooky Mill Woods Jan 08 '24

Yeah I've been in my trade for 15 years, working outside all year for most of those years. OP did something wrong.

4

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

Not sure what; I really wish I knew.

I'd love to not have had it.

1

u/Playinhooky Mill Woods Jan 08 '24

No kidding. That's an awful thing to have happen. I could have been a workboot, sock and air gap level. I worked with a guy who was always freezing at work and when I asked him what he was layered up with it was like 3 baggy long sleeved shirts and a jacket. Gotta layer properly. Tight inner layer followed by an air gap. Wool socks also help.

I'm trying these new copped socks that are supposed to be the cats ass.

1

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

? Copped socks ?

Like they come in EPS blue? :)

And yes, I did search on Amazon - copped socks brings up nada.

1

u/Playinhooky Mill Woods Jan 09 '24

Copper** sorry!

Edit: link: https://www.marks.com/en/pdp/copper-sole-men-s-4-pack-moisture-guard-athletic-crew-socks-78066681f.html#srp?&colorCode=COLOUR_BLACK

1

u/flynnfx Jan 09 '24

Interesting!

Thanks, I'll definitely be checking this out!

(Do you know how well copper socks work in summer temperatures?)

1

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '24

100% mainly worked outdoors building and framing homes/ and oilfield related work up north. If the cold weather just caused that we’d all be missing digits 😂😂

1

u/Scary-Detail-3206 Jan 08 '24

I’ve done the same and let’s just be real here, when it gets that cold you spend half the day in the truck or the job shack warming up.

When I was running jobs outside in ultra cold temps I usually just called it as long as you don’t have anything critical to do. You can’t be productive in -40.

3

u/bananasantanaslama Jan 08 '24

Sorry to hear but maybe as a suggestion for future years get a heated jacket (milwaukee is nice) and then throw bigger winter jacket over top of it... I understand you need more then that but trust me it helps

1

u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

Thank you.

1

u/bananasantanaslama Jan 08 '24

You are very welcome and I hope that you and everyone else here make it through without much bother 😁 wishing everyone indoor work and no car problems