Peterborough Public Health Issues Second Heat Warning of the Season
Written by Communications, July 17, 2020
Today Peterborough Public Health is issuing the second Extended Heat Warning of the season. A long duration heat event is expected Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, and potentially into early next week. Daytime high temperatures in the low thirties with overnight lows as high as 24 degrees Celsius are forecast, providing little or no relief from the heat.
One Roof will be opening as a Cooling Centre for Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm. Temperatures are forecast to drop on Monday.
Peterborough Public Health continues beach water testing throughout the City and County of Peterborough and at Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. Results are regularly updated at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Refillable water bottles and bottled water are being distributed by One Roof through its community meal program.
Peterborough Public Library is also providing refillable water bottles and able to refill water bottles during its curbside pickup hours detailed below.
The City of Peterborough offers water refill stations at:
- Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.
- Eastgate Memorial Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.
- Beavermead Park, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.
- Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., during its curbside pickup hours:
- Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
In addition to the water refill stations, the tap water in public washrooms at municipal parks, including King Edward Park and Millennium Park, is from the City’s normal water supply.
People suffer heat-related illnesses when their body temperature quickly rises and they are unable to cool themselves. The risk of heat-related illness increases with the amount of time spent in the heat, the temperature and an individual’s sensitivity to heat. If you feel faint, find it hard to breathe, or feel confused and disoriented because of the heat, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department.
Please remember to call family, friends and neighbours, especially seniors who live on their own, to make sure they are alright.
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Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. This decreases your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
Peterborough Public Health issues warnings for high heat or humidity that is expected to last two or more days. Peterborough Public Health follows a provincial Harmonized Heat Warning and Information System for dealing with heat events affecting Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, and the City and County of Peterborough.
Peterborough Public Health staff will monitor this system to determine when the Medical Officer of Health should declare a heat warning or extended heat warning. This coordinated provincial system provides a consistent approach for processing and issuing heat warnings in Ontario. It also provides evidence-based heat warning triggers which are founded on the association between temperature, humidex and mortality.
Extreme heat events are a potentially significant health risk and can have a severe impact on the health of vulnerable populations including infants, the elderly, shut-ins, persons with chronic diseases, people taking certain medications or using illicit drugs, the morbidly obese and the marginally housed. Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are preventable.
Extreme heat is often accompanied by poor air quality. Peterborough Public Health encourages you to monitor the Air Quality Health Index found as a link on the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Park’s website www.airqualityontario.com and plan outdoor activities accordingly.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391