In the last week, Weyburn residents faced a week of very extreme cold temperatures, as it dropped past -35 degrees Celsius most days. The wind chill was also a factor, as it made it feel like the temperatures were in the -40s or -50. Despite the cold weather, several brave Weyburn employees faced the conditions to get to work and keep the city running. For those who had to work outside in those conditions, knowing how to dress properly to face the cold was the best way to face the day.

For Canada Post mail carriers, being outside is part of the job to get the mail delivered. "Usually at -50 degrees or colder, we carefully consider sending out the postal carriers," said Chris Staples, operations superintendent of Canada Post in Weyburn. "Our staff was willing to go out when the temperature dropped past those temperatures, because they are very dedicated to their routes. I am very proud of how they braved the cold to deliver the mail."

These postal carriers know best from experience on how to dress for working in the cold. Staples said, "We try to push the minimum three-layer concept. The first layer should be a wicking layer, to allow moisture from the body to dry off. The second layer should be an insulating layer and the third should be a layer to break the wind."

"For feet, they should wear an absorbent inner sock and over that a wool sock, with a boot that is high enough to prevent snow from getting in. As for the neck, both the front and back should be covered, then the head should be covered by an insulating toque and a wind-breaking hood. When it gets really cold, the more of the face you can cover, the better."

"The main thing is that when one extremity starts to feel like it is burning, it is time to seek heat and avoid frostbite," said Staples. "It is also important to stay hydrated, because it's easier to become dehydrated during the winter. Drink warm decaffeinated beverages when you can to keep your blood flowing."

"A person can refuel their body by eating an energy bar, and it is extremely important to change wet clothes into dry clothes at your earliest convenience," said Staples. "For those employees who can, it is better to work with a buddy so you can watch out for each other."

It is just not the postal carriers who are outside on foot, going door to door to deliver mail, as newspapers are delivered by a different set of employees. Colleen Robb is one of the Weyburn Review paper carriers, who has been on the job for a year and seven months; she is responsible for six routes, carrying roughly 200 papers.

She too knows the importance of laying during the winter. "Since I walk for all my routes, during the winter I wear four layers of clothes to stay protected from the cold."

"On a cold day like we have been having, sometimes the wind can pick up in the afternoon and become much colder than the morning. It makes it a little tougher to do the routes, when you are walking into the wind," said Robb. "The subscribers on my routes are good for letting me in to warm up for a second, or even providing hot chocolate on really good days. It is also nice that they keep their walks shoveled."

Since 90 per cent of the carriers for the Weyburn Review are minors, there is added responsibility for their parents to ensure that these young carriers are dressed for the cold. Laurel and Brian Hopfe are the parents to Jay Hopfe; at 11 years old he has been delivering papers with the help of his parents, and is responsible for three routes, carrying roughly 50 papers.

"We dress very warmly during the winter, as we walk part of the route and drive part of the route," said Laurel. "There is usually no trouble doing the route, as we haven't had much trouble with the subscribers on the routes not shoveling."

"It seems that if the weather is going to be bad, it will be bad on a Wednesday when the papers have to be delivered," said Laurel. "During winter, it is usually worse because it gets slippery and the wind will start flapping the papers around."

The cold not only deters those who have to deliver the mail or papers, but it has also become a deterrent to those working in the oil industry, construction industry and for the Works and Parks department for the City of Weyburn.

Todd Philp, field supervisor at Jerry Mainil Ltd., says that for the most part, "When it gets to extreme cold during the winter, everything in the oil industry takes a break because it can be costly to try to run our equipment in extreme temperatures."

The one part of the oil industry that does keep on running is the steam-heating industry. "Those men are a pretty dedicated bunch of workers," said Philp. "They keep the oil stills running in the extreme cold."

Those employees know how to dress for working outside for long periods of time. "You bundle up and do whatever you have to do to stay warm," said Brian Hallberg, steam operator at Jerry Mainil Ltd. "When you have to be out in the field for a long period of time, pack a big lunch for the day. We also work in teams of two, so that we can have one person staying warm in the truck and the other working the equipment."

Normal winter conditions make the job of the water and sewer crew for the City of Weyburn more difficult. Darren Hockley, water and sewer chargehand for the city, said, "The freezing temperatures make it take longer in digs, since we have to dig through the frost before reaching the ground. It can take double or triple the time it would take a crew during the summer, especially since we have to make sure the water doesn't freeze."

For the employees on the job, Hockley says that "we make sure to take lots of warm-up breaks, by getting inside to some place warm. We are also careful to layer up the clothing we wear under our city uniforms. Once we are down in the cage, everyone on the crew wants to be down there and working to stay warm. So we take turns while we work."

In extreme weather conditions, Hockley said, "Normally we will shut down for the day. But this week, despite the extreme conditions we had to go out on Tuesday because a sewage main had a blockage and we had to work on it."

Extreme weather conditions will also affect the job for construction workers. "Everything freezes up on you, so you can't use your air tools and have to do a lot more work by hand," said Erik Anderson, apprentice carpenter at John Hulbert Construction.

Anderson has been working outside since he started for the company, five months ago. He has noted that working during the winter is harder than any other time. The one advantage is that he does work with his hands, "that does make it easier to keep warm, since you are keeping your circulation running. But we also take efforts to get as warm as we can, wearing as much clothes as we can."

"You have to dress warm, that includes wearing long johns, extra mitts, keeping your face protected and going that extra mile," said Dave Deschner, a supervising foreman at John Hulbert Construction. "If it gets too cold, you get your crew someplace warm, either to the truck or inside a building."

Deschner has been working construction for 25 years, and after seeing a lot of extreme winter conditions he knows that there comes a point when things on an outside site come to a halt. "There is a point when it just gets so cold that there is no point in endangering yourself or the crew, and at that point a lot of inside work gets done."

No matter what the conditions outside, residents are advised to check the forecast before heading outside for the day and ensure that they are prepared for extreme weather conditions. It is also wise advice to not stay outside in extreme cold for too long and in the case of bad conditions, make sure that someone is expecting you.