The health unit serving Northumberland County says it is warning the public about extreme heat conditions to reduce heat-related illness.
The Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit says that Environment Canada has forecast hot humid weather continuing through Wednesday.
It says heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can be very dangerous,
The health unit is taking protective action by alerting the public of extreme heat events to prevent and reduce heat-related illnesses and direct community response and outreach to at-risk and priority populations especially to those most vulnerable to health risks including people who work outdoors, people who are unhoused, elderly and some people with disabilities or chronic diseases, people who are pregnant, and children and infants. The health unit also advises people to “monitor yourself and those around you for signs of heat-related illness and seek medical attention if required.”
Based on criteria from Environment Canada, the HKPR District Health Unit will issue the following alerts:
- Heat Warning: when the daytime temperature is expected to be 31°C or higher, with a minimum overnight low of 20°C or higher, for two (2) consecutive days. A heat warning can also be issued when the humidex is forecast to be 40 or higher for two (2) consecutive days.
- Extending Heat Warning: when the same conditions apply above, but the heat event is expected to last for three or more days in a row.
Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can be very dangerous, especially to those most vulnerable to health risks including people who work outdoors, people who are unhoused, elderly and some people with disabilities or chronic diseases, people who are pregnant, and children and infants. Monitor yourself and those around you for signs of heat-related illness and seek medical attention if required.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke include:
- tiredness and weakness
- dizziness and/or fainting
- rash
- nausea or vomiting
- rapid breathing and headache
- extreme thirst
- decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine
To help reduce your risk of heat-related illnesses during an extreme heat warning, ensure you drink lots of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty and try to spend time in an air-conditioned home or public building, such as a shopping mall, library, or community centre. Contact your local municipality to ask about designated public cooling centres.
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