WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 11 Watch for cold weather warning signals Report from Queen's Park y The lion.George Ashe. .MPi - I)urhaIm Westl Minister of Government Services In 1973 the Ontario Government set up the Urban Transportation Development Corporation - UTDC - to research and develop better ways 'of moving people around our cities. The Corporation-has been a success. In 1984 UTDC racked up $262.7 million in sales, resulting in a profit of $12.3 million. Despite this sound record, the Peterson Liberal Goverrnment appears to be in a hurry to sell off UT- DC. While I applaud the fact that the new gover- rnment is continuing the policy of previous Progressive Conservative administrations to review Provincial Crown Corporations and dispose of those that are no longer required, there is no ap- parent reason why UTDC should be sold. In a nation whose past record for spending on research and development has not been outstan- ding, UTDC has been an exception. The Corporation has proved to the world that Canada and Ontario can design top-notch technology and makeit work. UTDC products have been sold in Michigan, Massachusetts, California and in Vancouver, B.C. In fact, the UTDC-built Vancouver Skytrain system was officially opened during this past month. The Skytrain will be one of the highlights of Expo '86. UTDC has also been a major supporter to the T.T.C. UTDC has been actively providing advice, bid- ding for contracts and providing transit equipment to buyers in Great Britain, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In the overseas market, UTDC has an advantage because it is a Crown Corporation. Government to government bargaining is the norm for these nations and the fact that UTDC is owned by Ontario provides the comforting assurance that the com- pany will still be around to deliver the equipment contracted for, as well as provide t'aining and maintenance assistance. UTDC is a major employer in Ontario. In Thunder Bay, Kingston and Toronto, about 1,500 people depend directly on UTDC for their livelihood. Direc- tly or indirectly, UTDC created 6,000 man-years of work in 1984. The Liberals have admitted that they are close to a deal that will sell off UTDC, probably to a Quebec firm, and that this deal does not contain any job guarantees. There is no reason why the Liberals should bring down the curtain on what is a successful example of government intervention in the marketplace. There is no reason why they should jeopardize the jobs of 1,500 Ontarians and threaten to dismantle a key player in our technology industries. If you're out enjoying the winter and your body starts sending you cold weather warning signais, pay attention. Frostbite begins with a nip you may not even iotice at first but it can get serious. Hypother- mia starts with the shivers and a touch of confusion, and it can kill you. Sgt. Fred Thompson of the Ontario Provin- cial Police says it's easy to stay out of trouble if you know the signais and you're prepared to do the right thing when problems do crop up. Sgt. Thompson teaches specialized field training at the OPP Academy in Brampton. All OPP officers take St. John Ambulance First Aid Courses and learn survival and rescue skills for water patrols and their work, winter and summer, in remote areas in Ontario. He recommends both for any outdo'or enthusiast. The first rule of thumb for safety is to have someone with you if you're going very far afield. Cold problems can sneak up on you, and a companion may spot them before you do. , Frostbite appears as a sudden whiteness in cheeks or ears, fingers or toes, and it can ac- company hypothermia. First aid for simple frostbite is easy. Warm the area with your han- ds, or tuck fingers or toes inside a jacket, un- der the arms. Hypothermia is a decrease in the body's internal temperature. There are stages begin- ning with intense shivering and difficulty speaking through con- fusion and muscular rigidity to uncon- sciousness and coma. It's brought on by get- ting wet and cold and by fatigue and long ex- posure to cold. Children, old people and people who are drinking or using drugs are more susceptible than the average. It's a year round risk in parts of the province where sportsmen go fishing and diving in chilly lakes and streams. If someone starts to shiver or appears disoriented, get him warm and into shelter immediately. Anyone who . suffers cold problems beyond mild frostbite should see a doctor. If they're severe, he needs medical help urgently. Treat anyone with cold injuries gently. St. John Ambulance teaches that you don't t' rub frostbitten areas or put snow on them. You may need to loosen tight clothes and take off tight boots or jewellery that interfere with cir- culation. Make sure the casualty is kept dry and warm, and give him something warm to drink if possible, but nothing alcoholic. If the problems hap- pen because you're lost or stranded, get into the best shelter you can, and build a fire. Get warm. A candle in a closed car will provide a surprising amount of warmth. If you must try to walk out of a situation, get as warm and dry as you can first, and be sure you know what you're doing. Sgt. Thompson says you can get disoriented not only by the cold, but by darkness or falling snow. Often it's safest to shelter and wait. "VWe occasionally have people who get caught in a storm in an ice hut. They try to walk out because they think their families will worry. They should stay put. They're safer in the hut than out on the ice." He says when you plan a winter outing, make sure someone knows where you're going and roughly when to expect you back. Take a small survival kit with you. Outdoor stores and safety supply companies sell them, or you can make your own to carry in a pocket or a knapsack. St. John recommends that you include a square gauze pressure bandage and a roll of gauze tape. Take a compass, windproof matches, a candle in a can, some non- perishable food, and spare socks and mit- tens. If you're in a vehicle you can extend that to spare boots, a sleeping bag and a gallon can that you can cook in. Sgt. Thompson says you can store most of the kit in the can and add some dehydrated food, tea bags and sugar. Taking a few safety precautions is no trouble. Not taking them can be big trouble. St. John Ambulance DO IT NoW! The Framing Centro 668-4521 first aid for cold in- juries: 1. Shelter the casualty, provide war- mth and warm, non- alcoholic drinks. 2. Do not apply direct heat, snow or cold water to a frozen or frostbitten area. 3. Loosen tight clothing and remove tight boots, gloves or jewellery. 4. Protect the face, hands or feet with warm, dry coverings. 5. Treat cold injuries very gently. 6. Do not rub a frozen or frostbitten area or subject the casualty to unnecessary exercise. Elther will cause cold blood to flow to the inner body and lower the core temperature. 7. Do not thaw a frozen area, get casualty to medical aid. 8. If it is necessary to bandage an area, put the bandages on lightly and protect the area from more damage. SPECIALS GALORE' The Framing 668-4521 Type writer RENTALS also SALES & SERVICE 'Bond Uest JlIooring YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH YOU WILL SAVE! FACTORY REBATE j ll j i THE *" AFFORDABLE Buy a BEST: High Efficiency Total Comfort System and Get Up To A $425 Factory Rebate* *A Carrier Total Comfort System includes a heat pump or central air conditioner, high efficiency gas or electric furnace, electronic air cleaner and humidifier. Offer valid in Ontario from January 11 - February 28/86 through participating dealers only. 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