New Year’s Freeze

It is New Year’s Eve, and people everywhere are getting set to ring in the new year with family and friends.

Many cities have scaled back their celebrations tonight as a result of the icy temperatures we are feeling across much of the province.

If you are celebrating outdoors, it is important to take extra precautions.

The extreme cold in the region means many are staying indoors for New Years Eve celebrations tonight.

Cities such as Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto are trimming their New Years Eve parties tonight because of the frigid temperatures.

But the outdoor concert in Niagara Falls is carrying on as planned.

If you are heading to the falls tonight, Dr. Stephen Cheung, who studies how the cold effects humans, says this location has an added risk and while many like to over indulge on alcoholic beverages tonight, if you are going to be outside, Cheung says: “the problem with alcohol in the cold is that it makes you feel warm thats because your skin blood vessels are opening up and that means your heat is actually going into the environment faster. You are losing heat faster.”

Cheung says its fine to celebrate outside tonight, but you need to know when to call it quits.

Numbness in the hands and feet as well as blue lips are signs that its time to head inside and get warm.

Cheung says frostbite and hypothermia can occur in just one hour for those who are not bundled up properly, and exposed skin is a big hazard.

Make sure you keep the lower half of your face covered and also wear a hat to cover your ears.

Environment Canada has issued and extreme cold warning for Hamilton and Burlington, but not currently for Niagara Falls.