Warning: It can be very dangerous if you choose to cross the U.S.-Canada border outside of official border points. Individuals have died or been injured due to severe weather or other risks in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Canadian weather can be very cold or hot. There can also be flooding or mudslides at certain times of the year. Below are some of the risks you could face.
Health risks:
- Hypothermia: is when your body gets too cold and can’t stay warm enough to work properly. This can happen in cold weather or if you have been in cold water. If not treated, it can cause death.
- Frostbite: is when your skin and body parts freeze because they are too cold for too long, and it can lead to the loss of a body part.
- Physical exhaustion: Due to extreme weather, difficult terrain, being outside too long, or working too hard, you might get very tired or even collapse.
- Heat exhaustion is when your body gets too hot from being in the sun or heated for too long, causing weakness, sweating, and dizziness.
- Dehydration: is when your body doesn’t have enough water, making you feel tired, thirsty, and weak.
Environment and weather risks:
Winter:
- Freezing temperatures below -35°C (-31°F)
- Snowstorms and blizzards: Reduced visibility and treacherous conditions can lead to getting lost or trapped in the cold.
Spring and Fall:
- Heavy rains and flooding: Can cause slippery ground, fast and dangerous water, or mudslides, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Sudden drops in temperature: Can cause hypothermia.
- Drowning: Increased risk during floods, heavy rains.
Summer:
- Heatwaves: Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to heatstroke and dehydration.
- Drowning in rivers or lakes.
- Physical exhaustion: Extended periods of activity in the heat can cause fatigue, dehydration, or even heat-related illnesses.
Additional risks all year:
- Attacks from wild animals.
- Forested or sparsely populated areas: Increased danger of becoming lost or encountering wildlife.
- Drowning risk: Due to fast-moving rivers, flooding or falling through thin ice.
If there is an emergency – Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. This is a free, emergency number you can call for help. Emergency health, police or fire services will be alerted.