London is bracing for another spell of frigid temperatures.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is issuing a cold weather alert Tuesday evening, with temperatures forecasted to drop to lows of -18 C overnight, and daytime highs of -15 C throughout the rest of the week.
An extreme cold warning was issued by Environment Canada for London, Parkhill, Strathroy, Komoka and Middlesex County on Tuesday but was lifted just after 8 a.m. Wednesday.
While the warning has been lifted by the national weather agency, it will still be very cold. Temperatures are expected to linger around -30 C Wednesday morning. The health unit says its alert will stay in place until early Saturday morning.
MLHU Public Health Inspector Randy Walker is reminding people to dress accordingly if they plan to spend time outside over the next several days because the cold can damage exposed skin in a matter of minutes, he says.
“Exposed skin is by far the most dangerous,” explained Walker, urging the wearing of hats and mitts along with winter coats.
“Canadians are used to the cold weather, so everybody is aware of good outerwear, and good thermally-insulated coats.”
Bare skin is susceptible to frostbite, and its symptoms include skin turning red or blue, or grey/white in later stages, pain, numbness and stiffness. Walker is reminding Londoners not to rub an area affected by frostbite, but to warm it by placing it next to warmer skin or immersing it in warm — not hot — water.
While frostbite occurs on the surface, hypothermia is more systemic.
Symptoms include pale skin, lethargy, confusion and hallucinations. While shivering is part of the early stages of hypothermia, a person may shiver less as their temperature drops. In severe cases, a person might lose consciousness, breathe shallowly, and have an irregular or hard-to-detect pulse.
The city of London has a list of warming centres and shelters that make adjustments to maximize their occupancy during extreme cold weather alerts:
London CAReS – Outreach will assist individuals within the core area of London in going to a warming centre and/or emergency shelter when alternate options are not available. 519-667-CARE (2273).
Emergency Shelters – 24hrs/day, 7 days a week
- Men’s Mission and Rehabilitation Centre, 459 York Street, N6B 1R3 Phone: 519-672-8500 (men 16 years and older)
- Rotholme Women’s and Family Shelter (for families), 42 Stanley Street, N6C 1B1 Phone: 519-673-4114 (parents and their children, and single women who are homeless with no other shelter options)
- The Salvation Army Centre of Hope, 281 Wellington Street, N6B 2L4 Phone: 519-661-0343 (single men and women 16 years and older)
- Unity Project, 717 Dundas Street, N5W 2Z5 Phone: 519-433-8700 (men, women, and couples 18 years and older)
Violence Against Women Shelters – 24hrs/day, 7 days a week
- Anova (formerly Women’s Community House), 101 Wellington Road, N6C 4M7 Phone: 519-642-3003 or 1-800-265-1576; and 450 Clarke Road, N5W 6H1 Phone: 1-800-265-1576
- Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services – Zhaawanong Shelter, 256 Hill Street, N6B 1C9 Phone: 1-800-605-7477 (Indigenous women and their children)
Crash Beds
457 York St (entrance at back of building, southwest corner), N6B 1R3
Open daily 9 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Drop-In Centres and Services
My Sisters’ Place, 566 Dundas St, N6B1W8
Open Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.;
Open Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited – Youth Action Centre (16 – 24 years of age), 332 Richmond St (corner of Richmond & York), N6A 3C3
Open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Meal Drop In: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Drop-in hours are extended during all extreme weather alerts – 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Youth can access the centre any time from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. as a drop-in/warming centre regardless of programming schedules.
Mission Services – The Resource Centre, 457 York Street (entrance at back of building), N6B 1R3
Open Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services
343 Richmond Street, Unit 109
Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
London InterCommunity Health Centre
- 659 Dundas Street, N5W 2Z1 Phone: 519-660-0875
- 1355 Huron Street, N5V 1R9 Phone: 519-659-6399
Health Centre Hours: Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thursday 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Ark Aid Street Mission, 696 Dundas St E, N5W 2Z4
Open 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Open for dinner Monday – Saturday at 6:45 p.m.
London Coffee House
371 Hamilton Road., N5Z 1R7
Open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Warming Centres London Community Centres Phone: 519-661-5575
- Boyle Memorial Community Centre, 530 Charlotte Street, N5W 4V4
- Byron Optimist Community Centre, 1308 Norman Avenue, N6K 2A3
- Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre, 656 Elizabeth Street, N5Y 6L3
- Hamilton Road Seniors Centre and Community Centre, 525 Hamilton Road,
- Kinsmen Recreation Centre, 20 Granville Street, N6H 1J3
- Kiwanis Seniors Centre, 78 Riverside Drive, N6H 1B4
- Medway Community Centre, 119 Sherwood Forest Square, N6G 2C3
- North London Optimist Community Centre, 1345 Cheapside Street, N5V 3N9
- South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd., N6E 3B3
- Springbank Gardens Community Centre, 205 Wonderland Road South, N6K 3T3
- Stronach Recreation Centre, 1221 Sandford Street, N5V 2J8
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