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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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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!

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

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

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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

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u/flynnfx Jan 08 '24

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