The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) said hot weather had arrived early in the season, when most people had not yet acclimatized.
“Everyone is at risk during a heat event, but health risks are greater for older adults, infants and young children, people with chronic illnesses, people who work in the heat, people who exercise in the heat, homeless people and low-income earners,” the EOHU said in a statement.
The health unit recommended that, during a heat wave, residents drink plenty of cool liquids, avoid sun exposure, reschedule outdoor activities to cooler times of day, wear loose fitting clothing with breathable fabric, and prepare meals that did not require the use of an oven. Residents were asked to take breaks in cool spots, take cool showers, and to avoid bundling babies and young children in blankets or heavy clothing.
Symptoms of heat illness included dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, headache, rapid breathing and heartbeat, extreme thirst, and decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine. If anyone nearby had a high temperature and was unconscious, confused or stopped sweating, residents were urged to call 911 and cool the person as much as possible while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
