Keeping cool is really hot
It's taken a little while, and after a long harsh winter and fairly cool spring, the nice warm summertime weather has finally arrived here in London. If you aren't used to Southern Ontario summertime weather it can be fairly nice most of the time, but once you get into June, July, August and even into September the thermometer sometimes gets a little too high for most to handle, and usually makes being outside and or doing any kind of physically exerting activity fairly uncomfortable for most.
So if you are wondering how you can beat the heat this summer here are just some of the many tips the Middlesex-London Health Unit has on how to keep cool during these warm summertime months:
- Try to limit time in the sun when the UV index is most intense, between 11am-4pm.
- Apply sunscreen SPF 15 (or higher) 20-30 minutes before going outside to ensure absorption.
- During extreme conditions, stay indoors and if possible in an air-conditioned environment. If you do not have air conditioning consider going to a shopping mall, library, recreational facility or heat-relief shelter.
- Decrease intake of caffeinated/alcoholic beverages during hot days.
- NEVER leave anyone, including pets, in a closed, parked vehicle.
- Drink plenty of water and natural juices even if you don't feel very thirsty.
If the temperature does stay hot for a number a days, the health unit then decides whether they should issue a Heat Alert or not, and according to Mag Yost, a public health nurse with the Middlesex-London Health Unit certain criteria has to be met before one is issued:
- Forecast showing a humidex of 40 Celsius or higher.
- Humidex forecasted to rise to 36 Celsius or higher, combined with Environment Canada smog alert.
- High temperatures without a humidex reading of 38 Celsius or higher.
- Environment Canada issues a humidex warning for outdoor activity for people in the Middlesex-London area.
As for how many heat alerts are issued by the health unit it really depends on what Mother Nature has in store for us according to Yost.
“It varies, some years we've had maybe one or two and then others we've have several it certainly just depends on the weather.”
For more tips on how to keep cool this summer visit www.healthunit.com.
By the way the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada was on July 5th, 1937 when it reached 45 Celsius in Midale Saskatchewan, and that's without the humidex.
So if you are wondering how you can beat the heat this summer here are just some of the many tips the Middlesex-London Health Unit has on how to keep cool during these warm summertime months:
- Try to limit time in the sun when the UV index is most intense, between 11am-4pm.
- Apply sunscreen SPF 15 (or higher) 20-30 minutes before going outside to ensure absorption.
- During extreme conditions, stay indoors and if possible in an air-conditioned environment. If you do not have air conditioning consider going to a shopping mall, library, recreational facility or heat-relief shelter.
- Decrease intake of caffeinated/alcoholic beverages during hot days.
- NEVER leave anyone, including pets, in a closed, parked vehicle.
- Drink plenty of water and natural juices even if you don't feel very thirsty.
If the temperature does stay hot for a number a days, the health unit then decides whether they should issue a Heat Alert or not, and according to Mag Yost, a public health nurse with the Middlesex-London Health Unit certain criteria has to be met before one is issued:
- Forecast showing a humidex of 40 Celsius or higher.
- Humidex forecasted to rise to 36 Celsius or higher, combined with Environment Canada smog alert.
- High temperatures without a humidex reading of 38 Celsius or higher.
- Environment Canada issues a humidex warning for outdoor activity for people in the Middlesex-London area.
As for how many heat alerts are issued by the health unit it really depends on what Mother Nature has in store for us according to Yost.
“It varies, some years we've had maybe one or two and then others we've have several it certainly just depends on the weather.”
For more tips on how to keep cool this summer visit www.healthunit.com.
By the way the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada was on July 5th, 1937 when it reached 45 Celsius in Midale Saskatchewan, and that's without the humidex.
