Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/July 28, 2015 – Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is cautioning area residents to exercise care when outdoors this week as Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the region. Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion. The hot weather conditions are expected to continue in this area into Thursday.
HPEPH advises residents to be on the lookout for symptoms of heat illness, which include:
- dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting
- headache
- rapid breathing and heartbeat
- extreme thirst, and
- decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine.
“If you experience any of these symptoms during extreme heat, you should immediately move to a cool place and drink liquids – particularly water,” said Dr. Richard Schabas, Medical Officer of Health for Hastings Prince Edward Public Health. “If symptoms worsen to include dizziness, blurred vision, difficult or rapid breathing, severe headache or confusion, convulsions, or fever, seek immediate medical attention.”
If you have friends, family and acquaintances who are vulnerable, be sure to check in on them and ensure they stay cool and hydrated. Those who are most vulnerable to suffering serious illness from extreme heat include:
- The elderly
- People with chronic illness or who take certain medications
- Infants and preschool children
- People who participate in physical activity or are involved in strenuous outdoor work for prolonged periods
- Pets
Residents are urged to stay out of the blazing sun and heat to the extent possible, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
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About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) operates one of 36 health units across Ontario. HPEPH provides dozens of programs and services, along with reliable health information, to a population of approximately 150,000 people in a 7,000 square km catchment area encompassing 17 municipalities. HPEPH’s mission is to enable the people in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties to achieve and maintain optimal health through health protection and promotion, as well as disease and injury prevention. For more information, please visit www.hpepublichealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Media Contact: Dr. Richard Schabas Medical Officer of Health 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 200 RSchabas@hpeph.ca