Cold Weather Continues to Affect Saskatchewan Businesses and Vulnerable Populations | The Canadian News

Extremely cold weather has had a firm grip on Saskatchewan for about a week and is not forecast to warm until Sunday.

The cold is not only dangerous for people who venture outside, but also for those who may have to provide assistance to those in need.

Brad’s Towing is always busy, but this recent cold snap has kept them even busier.

“There are many requests for service. Once we’re three to four hours late, it seems pointless to make people wait beyond that, so we make sure they’re home safe and warm, and if they can leave their keys with the car, we’ll get there. ” – said owner Brad Stratychuk.

Battery surges and vehicle breakdowns are among the top cold weather problems.

Stratychuk says they received between 100 and 200 calls a day, while they rejected those if the wait times were too long. .

“We do what we can and keep the guys safe (and) take care of as many clients as we can. We appreciate everyone’s understanding, we just can’t get to them as fast as they sometimes do, ”Stratychuk said.

For those who don’t have a warm place to go, there are open shelters like The Lighthouse in downtown Saskatoon. The lighthouse is still at full capacity, providing a warm place to sleep and warm meals along with winter clothing.

Ty Mckenzie, Spiritual Care Coordinator at The Lighthouse, said it’s critical that all shelters work together to make sure everyone in need has a warm place to stay.

Trend stories

• 

  COVID-19: Quebec Recovers Night Curfew, Private Gatherings Banned, As Cases Rise

• 

  Ontario breaks previous single-day record with nearly 14,000 new COVID cases

“We want to make sure that people can find a warm place to stay and thus not turn people away. It would be an extremely extenuating circumstance if we did that, ”Mckenzie said.

If people can’t stay at The Lighthouse, McKenzie said this is when they will try to collaborate with their partners at the YWCA, the Salvation Army or the new Saskatoon Tribal Council shelter to make sure there is a spot available for that person.

McKenzie added that all shelters need warm winter clothing like coats, boots and gloves this time of year.

With cold weather expected through New Years Eve, Medavie Health Services is asking people planning to go out to also have a plan to avoid getting stuck outside while waiting for taxis.

“Just make sure you have a plan in place if you are going out to the holidays. Obviously, we would want people to stay home, but that probably won’t happen, “said spokesman Troy Davies.

Davies said cold weather also changes the way paramedics operate.

“A simple fall for an older person outside would not typically be a call for lights and sirens, but in these kinds of weather conditions, that’s life-threatening,” Davies told Global News.

Davies warned residents to warm up slowly once they got back inside from the cold.

“Usually if your fingers are frozen and you have hot water, you are not going to feel exactly how hot the water is because you have lost feeling there,” Davies explained.

Davies also reminded residents to limit their time outdoors, dress in layers, and make sure they don’t have exposed skin.