A cold front continues to funnel in from the northern part of the province and temperatures in the city tumbled close to the minus 20 mark on Tuesday forcing the closure of some events and outdoor facilities.

Winsport says its ski and snowboard hill will stay open for the remainder of the day but it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday because of the cold temperatures and freezing wind chills

Officials say the closure is for the safety of staff and its customers and that they will wait until Thursday to decide if the facility will remain closed on Friday.

Other areas of the park like the MacPhail Centre, gymnastics centre and hall of fame, will remain open to visitors.

Temperatures for the two days will be below minus 20 and will feel more like minus 30 with the wind chill.

The Calgary Zoo has also cancelled ZOOLIGHTS for Tuesday night and says it will be back on Friday, weather permitting.

EMS officials say exposed skin can freeze in a matter of minutes so people should take precautions.

“Any exposed skin can definitely undergo some type of frostbite within a number of minutes. What we recommend, if you’re experiencing that frost nip, painful, tip of the nose, ear lobes, finger tips, get inside, hopefully that will rectify itself quickly, if not it could be a little bit more significant and you may want to seek medical attention if required,” said Adam Loria, EMS Public Education Officer.

Loria says people can protect themselves from frostbite by covering up as much as possible and wearing layers.

“Especially for people working outside that still need to make a living and keep those job sites going, look after each other, take frequent breaks inside of a warm area, whether that be a vehicle or a building or what have you, help your body regulate its temperature, stay hydrated with water,” he said.

He says EMS crews have responded to a handful of cold weather related calls since Sunday but he expects that demand will increase in the coming days.

“We’re prepared,” said Loria.“If you’re out there shoveling snow make sure you take frequent breaks and lift with your legs and knees, keep that back straight. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions definitely take frequent breaks, if you have any pain at all, especially chest pain or breathing problems take a break or stop and make sure you stay on top of your prescribed medication or regime.”

EMS advises motorists to also be prepared in case something happens while out on the road.

“If you’re travelling on the highways, ensure that you have a first-aid kit, a fully stocked first-aid kit and a number of extra blankets, jackets, emergency candles,” he said. “Just items that should you become stranded for some time, you can keep warm, extra, fully charged cell phone battery if required and maybe a collapsible shovel, should you find yourself in a ditch, or what have you, so you can begin shoveling yourself out.”

Officials say people should also learn to recognize the symptoms of low-body temperature or hypothermia and to seek medical attention if necessary.

“They’re acting incomprehensible, incoherent, confused, they’re not acting appropriately. At that point it still could be reversed so just get that person to a warm area,” said Loria. “It gets dangerous when someone is alone or someone doesn’t recognize those symptoms and they become increasingly confused to the point where they’re unconscious, that could obviously lead to very severe if not fatal injuries.”

For more information on winter safety and working in cold weather, visit the AHS website HERE.

Click HERE for the latest on road conditions from AMA Road Reports.