The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Possibly influenced by a changing climate, many regions of Canada are experiencing prolonged periods of unusually hot conditions. Unusually hot weather conditions affect the body by pushing it beyond its limits. When temperatures and humidity are high, the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. A heat wave generally refers to at least three consecutive days with unseasonably high temperatures often accompanied by high humidity and where the temperature does not cool down significantly at night. Extreme heat can cause severe illness and even death. The following are some of the conditions that may arise during high temperatures. Heat Cramps These are painful spasms usually in the leg and stomach muscles and usually accompanied by heavy sweating. They can be alleviated by moving to a cooler place and lightly massaging and stretching the affected muscles. People experiencing heat cramps should also sip up to half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Heat Exhaustion During heat exhaustion, a person may be sweating heavily, but their skin may be cool, pale or flushed. Other symptoms are a weak pulse, fainting, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and headaches. Body temperature may be normal but it will likely rise. People suffering from heat exhaustion should lie down in a cool place, loosen or remove clothing and put on cool wet clothes. They should sip water slowly, about half a glass every 15 minutes. Water should be discontinued if they are nauseated. They should seek immediate medical attention if vomiting occurs. Heat Stroke (also called Sun Stroke) This is a severe medical emergency that can result in death. Body temperature is high (103 F or 39.4 C) as opposed to normal body temperature of 98.5 F or 37 C, the pulse is strong and rapid, and breathing is shallow and rapid. The person suffering heat stroke may be experiencing throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, have red, hot and dry skin (not sweating), and may become unconscious. This person should be taken to a hospital as quickly as possible. Delay can be fatal. En route, keep the person as cool as possible by removing clothing and sponging with cool water. Other Effects Heat can also aggravate other conditions such as: Heart disease, especially high blood pressure; Kidney disorders; or Psychiatric disorders. See 'Air' on pg. Continued from pg. Heat waves may make air quality problems (such as smog) worse and increase the risks of respiratory or cardiovascular illness. If a heat wave is accompanied by air pollution, anyone with chronic lung conditions such as bronchitis or emphysema or with a variety of cardiac conditions could be particularly affected. Minimizing Your Risk During periods of extreme heat, take these precautions. Keep out of the heat Pay attention to the weather forecasts. If unusually hot conditions are forecast, try and plan your day in a way that allows you to stay out of the heat. If you must be outdoors during hot weather, try to limit your activity to morning and evening. Rest often in a shady area so that your bodyÕs temperature has a chance to recover. If you must go out, stay in the shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and light, loose-fitting clothing. If you will be outside for some time, drink plenty of water. If you are the parent or caregiver of infants or young children, if possible, avoid taking them out in periods of extreme heat. But if you must go out, dress them in cool, loose clothing, shade their heads or faces with hats or umbrellas, and provide plenty of liquids for them to drink. Stay cool Stay cool indoors, take cool showers often or wet your hands, face and the back of your neck. Reduce the use of your oven and stove to keep your home cooler. Turn lights off or down low. Keep shades or drapes drawn on the sunny side of your house and keep windows slightly open. Open them wide at night to cool the house. If you donÕt have air conditioning, spend part of the day in an air-conditioned place such as a shopping mall, library, community centre or cinema. Never leave infants, children or pets unattended in a parked car. Drink Regularly Drink plenty of water and natural fruit juices. DonÕt wait until you are thirsty to drink. If you do heavy physical activity during hot weather, drink two to four glasses of cool liquids per hour. DonÕt drink liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar. They may actually cause your body to lose more fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks because they may cause stomach cramps. Heavy sweating causes your body to lose salt and minerals. These must be replaced by drinking cool drinks or sports beverages. If you have epilepsy, heart disease, liver or kidney disease, or if you are on a fluid-restricted diet, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intake. Seek advice if you have any concerns.
