Dressing for Winter

We covered winter driving recently. It is also really important to know how to dress in the winter. This is relevant not only to our International students coming from India, but also for locals as well. Those from Vancouver and Surrey visiting in the winter are usually also unprepared for the cold in Prince George. I have noticed our elders at the Gurdwara are often wearing thin layers of kurta pajama or Punjabi suit, with sandals or runners. Many people come with thin jackets and no gloves. 

Our temperatures in the next few days will drop down to -40 or below. This is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous. Just like your body can get hot and you can get heat stroke in the summer, your body can also get very cold and you can get hypothermia if you are out for long periods without adequate clothes. Just like your body can get burns from heat, the cold can give you burns as well. This is called frostbite, and it can get so bad that people’s fingers, toes, and ears can fall off. This is why it is important to protect yourself during the winter temperatures. It is not heroic to walk around in a t-shirt and shorts, it just isn’t smart and you are risking losing the very hands you work with and live your life with. 

To start with the basics, you should have a winter coat and winter boots. Winter coats are much thicker than the ones most people buy which are more summer coats really. They should have a temperature rating on them, and be good to at least -30 for places like Prince George. Often times coats can get expensive so look for sales, and remember they should last for several years at minimum. They don’t wear down as quickly as boots. Parkas are excellent for the winter- they are long and have a big hood on them (like the picture on the right). Try to choose a bright color as it gets dark early in the evening and it is hard to see people if they are wearing a white coat (matches the snow) or a black coat (matches the darkness). Have tags on your clothes (we dropped some off at the Gurdwara from ICBC or you could get reflective tape or a reflective vest yourself). These allow you to be seen when walking. If you want you can get a whole snowsuit instead of just a jacket. Its useful if you are going to be sledding, skating, skiing, or snowboarding. 

There are a lot of pretty boots but it is important to buy good boots and not just ones that look good. In fact many boots might be just regular boots and not designed for the cold weather and ice we get here in Prince George or other areas of Canada. You need to look at the bottom to check to see they have good traction. Check and see what temperature they are good for because they often tell you that the shoes are good to “-10” or “-20” etc. With the amount of snow we have the boots should come up to the middle of your shin at least like the ones in this picture. If they are too short all the snow will go inside them and you will get very cold feet. A good pair of boots can last you a few years. The key to having boots is they keep your feet warm, one of the main areas we lose heat and the second is to save us from slipping. If you are wearing running shoes most likely you will slip and fall on the ice. Many people with boots even slip and fall. One winter I fell on the ice three times so I know! Slips on the ice can obviously cause broken bones and head injuries or worse. If it is icy, there are a few things you can tie around your boots to make them stick into the ice so they don’t slip as easily. For example “YakTrax” or similar products, but you have to take them off when you get inside otherwise you will slip on regular floors (I had that happen to me!). Always wear your boots with socks. Please no sandals or jutiyaan!  

NOT helpful for the cold

Next comes hats, scarves, and gloves. Those with a paag obviously don’t have to worry about hats. For the rest of us we should be wearing something to protect our ears and our heads from losing heat. Hats with a warm fleece lining, or with a fuzzy layer inside (ex. heat holders) are best to keep you warm, not the fashionable ones with just a thin knit because those aren’t designed for cold. Scarves protect our face, and when people are really going into the snow for a long time they even wear a whole mask over their face with just holes for the eyes and mouth. Gloves once again are important in selection. Those thin ones with the individual fingers knitted for women are terrible because they are good for fall and not Canadian winter (see the pink ones). Winter gloves are once again rated for the type of cold, and will have a thick layer. You can get ones like that with the fingers free, or you can get ones that are mittens with all the fingers bunched together (like the ones on the right below). If you need to use your phone outside frequently you may want to get ones you can use your phone with, because normal gloves wont work. 
 

Lastly comes the importance of what you are actually wearing under all this outside stuff. Personally I wear long sweater dresses to the Gurdwara to keep myself warm. I have pajamis that are lined in a thick “furry” material inside that keeps me warm enough. Then I carry a shawl too in case its still cold inside. If you want to wear a kurta pajama or a Punjabi suit, you should wear long johns underneath (long thermal underwear). These are thin warm layers that go underneath your salwar or pajama, and kameez so that you don’t freeze. Nowadays you can buy warmer salwar kameez that are made of sweater knits. Invest in some good sweaters for the winter and choose warm fabrics for your winter clothes like fleece, wool, and knits. Wear long sleeves and long pants, not things you would wear in the summer. If the knits or sweaters are thick, you don’t have to wear anything under. I use a trick and just hold it up to light, if it has enough holes that its see through it’s a thin sweater and needs another shirt under it to keep me warm. Tip for those working in hospital: Mark’s Work Wearhouse has scrubs that are lined with fleece (I found them just perfect for inside the hospital). 

Hope you all survive the cold weather next week!

Picture references (I don't endorse any of these. I just chose random pictures).
https://www.rakuten.com/shop/bhfo/product/P1788383/
https://www.businessinsider.com/best-mens-parka
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiQ4Nn0vfrmAhVEqp4KHTRZDrcQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fshop%2Fvbiger-vbiger-ski-mittens-warm-winter-mittens-waterproof-ski-snow-snowboard-gloves-black-cold-weather-mittens-for-women-men-p179979b6b02fba75824a5ca20dd04536.html&psig=AOvVaw0q07oSSYdf5rTTYa3CBqgX&ust=1578795546553990
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Men-Women-Full-Gloves-Solid-Color-Knitted-Winter-Warm-Gloves-Gold/178973671
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjn4LSkv_rmAhUIj54KHXNIAVkQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysafetysign.com%2Fno-open-toed-footwear-iso-prohibition-sign%2Fsku-is-1185&psig=AOvVaw17MO5oGIa4LtX4iBCjrcGv&ust=1578795906679040