It's Cold Outside - Let's Take Care of Vulnerable Ones This Winter

As the winter carries on through the months of January and February here in the Region of Peel, the weather can really start to bite at us. Not only does it get colder but also because we live in the golden horseshoe, it’s a very humid cold that we can feel through our parkas right into our bones. You know the feeling.

This then is the kind of chill that makes us add scarves and toques to our hopefully waterproof outerwear just too quickly get out to the grocery store or jump out of our vehicles to pump gas for a few minutes. How many of you get those white fingers that seem to stay cold for hours afterward? Even the snow worshippers, who ski, ice fish, snowmobile or play pond hockey feel the ‘ick’ factor of this kind of cold.

Imagine then, some of the more vulnerable members of our community and how this weather may affect them. Some folks, because of age, a medical condition (e.g. Alzheimer's diseases, Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain injury, etc.), mental health issues or physical limitations are at a greater safety risk in weather like this. Some may wander and not be adequately dressed while others may unwittingly get themselves into various predicaments while traveling in the weather that may pose a danger to themselves.

Do you have vulnerable loved ones in your family? Are you concerned about them wandering off in this weather? Have you heard about the Vulnerable Persons Registry program that Peel Regional Police uses to help locate vulnerable persons? We encourage you to have a look at our webpage and video for more information about the program and to learn how your loved one may qualify for registration.

For information about the partnership program between Peel Regional Police and MedicAlert, called ‘MedicAlert Connect Protect’ please review the article ‘Peel Regional Police Partnership with MedicAlert Foundation Canada’.

Peel Regional Police are asking folks to look out for one another this winter. Checking in on your elderly neighbors and those living with disabilities is a great way to help keep your community members safe.

A Safer Community Together