Residents Urged to Take Precautions During Heat Warning

Waterloo Region – The Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Liana Nolan advises Region of Waterloo residents to take steps to prevent illness during the first extreme heat and humidity event of 2014. Environment Canada has issued a heat warning (formerly humidex advisory) for our area due to high humidex values forecast for Tuesday August 26th afternoon. A cold front is expected to sweep across the area Tuesday night bringing a return to near seasonal temperature values for the remainder of the week.

All residents, and particularly those at the greatest risk of heat-related illness (e.g., older adults; infants and young children; people with chronic illnesses; people who work or exercise in the heat; people without access to air conditioning; and people who are homeless, and/or live alone) are urged to take the following actions:

1. Drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water, before feeling thirsty. Avoid drinks that are high in sugar, caffeine and/or alcohol.
2. Take cool showers or baths until you feel refreshed.
3. Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
4. Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place.
5. When outside, seek shade.
6. Block the sun out by closing awnings, curtains or blinds during the day.
7. Never leave people or pets in your care inside a parked vehicle or in direct sunlight.
8. Frequently visit neighbours, friends and older family members, especially those who are chronically ill or live alone, to make sure that they are cool and hydrated.

More tips on what to do during extreme heat and humidity are available on Region of Waterloo Public Health’s website (http://bit.ly/LyV2SZ) or by calling 519-575-4400. Links to cooling centres offered by the municipalities and the Region of Waterloo can also be found on this website.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Kalbfleisch, Manager, Information & Communications, 519-883-2270, or jkalbfleisch@regionofwaterloo.ca

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The Region of Waterloo provides more than 60 per cent of municipal services to a growing population of 530,000 people. We are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving and sustainable community through innovative leadership and a range of services such as: public health, social services, planning, heritage, water supply, regional roads, waste management, ambulance service, rural libraries, public transit, community housing, emergency planning, Provincial Offences Courts and airport services.