With a local heat wave continuing throughout Wednesday, Huron Perth Public Health is encouraging residents to take measures to keep themselves safe.
The heat warning is expected to end on Thursday with maximum temperatures today expected to be in the low thirties with night time lows in the high teens to low twenties.
With the humidex values, temperatures could feel closer to high thirties to low forties.
While extreme heat can put everyone at risk from heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for:
older adults;
infants and young children;
people with chronic illnesses, such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions, or psychiatric illnesses;
people who work in the heat;
people who exercise in the heat;
people experiencing homelessness; and
low-income earners (who may not have access to air conditioning)
Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Huron Perth Public Health recommends you take measures to protect yourself and others from over-exposure to extreme heat:
Drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water, before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. You may be dehydrated before you start feeling thirsty.
Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made of breathable fabric.
Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place, such as a tree-shaded area or air-conditioned space.
Contact your municipality or call 211 for hours and locations of any nearby cooling centres.
Take cool showers or baths until you feel refreshed.
Prepare meals that don’t need to be cooked in your oven.
Block sun out by closing curtains or blinds during the day.
Avoid sun exposure. Shade yourself by wearing a wide-brimmed, breathable hat or using an umbrella.
Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle or in direct sunlight.
Check in on neighbours, friends and older family members, especially those with chronic illness, to make sure they are cool and hydrated.
