City to activate extreme heat plan in Saskatoon

With the possibility of extreme heat this weekend, an emergency response plan will be in effect from Sunday

With the possibility of extreme heat hitting the city of Saskatoon this weekend, the Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization has said it will activate its extreme heat emergency response plan from Sunday until Wednesday.

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The Level 2 plan gives city residents access to cooling locations, outreach services, wellness checks and water distribution during extreme heat, the City of Saskatoon said in a news release on Friday.

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A Level 2 plan is activated when daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 32C and there is a minimum overnight temperature of more than 16C predicted for a period of more than three days.

The city has a list of designated cool-down locations — that include libraries and leisure centres — online. Many locations offer a public water fountain and/or water filling station as well. Partner organizations will also distribute water to vulnerable residents and have access to misting tents to provide another way to cool down.

An extreme heat emergency response plan means 16 spray parks have button-activated water play from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. when the extreme heat emergency response plan is activated. City paddling pools will operate within summer play program hours.

High temperatures or humidity conditions can pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion, but extreme heat affects everyone.

The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

The findings from the B.C. Coroners Service about the deaths during 2021's heat dome in that province included this sobering statistic: 79 per cent of those who died were 65 or older.

Check in with friends, family and neighbours, particularly those who are elderly, socially isolated, or those who have mobility challenges as they may be less able to prepare themselves for extreme heat.

Saskatoon Transit also operates a safe bus program designed to assist anyone who needs immediate shelter or needs to contact emergency services. People can safely flag down a bus or go to a parked bus to get help. Transit operators can contact emergency services directly through the on-bus radio system and will provide a safe place to wait.

Humidex (humidity index) values reflect how hot a person feels. It combines temperature and dew point into one computed value. (The dew point is the temperature at which air must be cooled for water vapour to condense and form dew or fog. The higher the dew point, the more moisture is in the air.).

Here are some things you can do to keep your cool:

The human body maintains a temperature of about 37C. If your body is overexposed to heat and becomes unable to properly cool itself, you might get heat exhaustion.

Signs of heat-related illness include dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing, muscle cramps, confusion, pale skin, swelling of hands and feet and headache. Call HealthLine 811 for advice on health risks, symptoms and precautions associated with heat.

Don't leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle on a hot day.

Start swigging even before you feel thirsty, then keep on drinking as replacing fluids lost to sweat is essential to keep cool and stave off dehydration. It's best to drink plain old water, but you can fancy it up with some refreshing cucumber, mint or citrus. Try to avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can be dehydrating.

Water-rich foods that help keep you hydrated include cucumbers, watermelon, celery and lettuce. Skip fatty and fried foods and heavy meals. Your body works overtime to digest food and metabolize it, so give it a break by eating light.

No A/c? No problem. Set up a fan and put a shallow bowl of ice in front of it — voila, a DIY a/c as the fan blows all that evaporating cold air around the room. If your place gets a lot of sunlight, block it out with curtains and blinds. Put a damp sheet over an opening to cool down the air coming through.

When it's cooler, open as many of your windows and doors as you can to get the air circulating — except when you have kids and wide-open windows become a safety issue. Also, don't forget to close them when you’re going out; burglars love heat waves.

Pull the plugs on appliances you usually have on standby, like computers, printers, even the TV. They generate heat as well as consuming electricity. Skip the dishwasher, clothes dryer and oven. Bonus: You get to save on your electricity bill, too.

Bring ice packs or a cold compress with you to bed. The Internet swears by a homemade compress made of rice and a sock. Some people put their bedsheets in the fridge or freezer a half-hour before bedtime. If that's too much work, putting your pillow cases in the chiller does the trick.

If you don't have air conditioning or your bedroom feels like an oven, pick a different place to sleep. Since heat rises, the ground floor or basement are usually cooler spots in the house. Indoor hammocks or the living room couch might be better spots until temperatures cool down.

If you have friends or family with a/c and room to spare, consider doing a sleepover.

Seek out air-conditioned spaces — movie theatres, malls, museums and libraries are good places of refuge. If you have to go outdoors, plan your outings before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the most intense heat.

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