Peterborough Public Health Issues Second Heat Warning of the Season
Written by Communications, August 23, 2021
Today Peterborough Public Health is issuing the second Heat Warning of the season. A heat event is expected to affect the local area from today (August 23) until the middle of the week. Daytime temperatures will reach 31 degrees Celsius ( ?C) with the humidex values of 36 to 40 degrees. Warm temperatures above 20 degrees each night will provide little relief from the heat. Cooler and less humid air is expected to arrive later this week.
One Roof Community Centre, located at 99 Brock Street will be opening as a Cooling Centre from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (but closed between 12 noon – 3:00 p.m. for prep and delivery of the lunch meal).
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.
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.
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 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.
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