Stay cool, Chatham-Kent.
It’s a hot one today and will be again tomorrow, with highs expected in the 30s. What’s worse, the Humidex values will make it feel like it’s in the mid-40s today and high 30s for Thursday.
And overnight lows are expected to stay in the mid-20s, with Humidex values into the 30s.
In other words, our overnight lows will feel like Tuesday’s daytime temperature.
Not everyone has access to air-conditioned spaces. However, municipal offices in Blenheim, Chatham, Ridgetown, Tilbury, and Wallaceburg will offer space for people to stop in, sit, have a drink of water, and cool off during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their locations can be found here.
Additionally, Employment and Social Services will offer the same service at their main office lobby located on the first floor of the Community Human Services Building at 435 Grand Ave. W. in Chatham over the same hours.
Hope Haven will offer services and a cooling station at their location at 183 Wellington St. W. in Chatham from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well.
James Street Drop In Centre will offer services and a cooling station at their location at 719 James St. in Wallaceburg from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Libraries in Chatham-Kent offer a respite from the heat. Customers can enjoy free Internet use and time to browse their collections as an escape from the heat.
CK Public Health’s Scott Dawson warned that dealing with the heat is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
“People’s ability to cope with extreme heat can vary. The effect of heat and the progression of heat illness depends on many factors. Populations who are disproportionately susceptible to the effects of extreme heat include children and the elderly, pregnant women, people with certain conditions (cardiovascular issues, obesity, diabetes, respiratory illness, renal disease, mental health disorders), people who take certain medications which interfere with the body’s thermoregulatory mechanism,” and more, he said.
Beware of signs of heat exhaustion, which is the milder form of a heat-related illness. They can include heavy sweating, rapid breathing, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea/vomiting, rapid heartbeat, extreme thirst and decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine.
If you start to have any of these symptoms, get out of the heat and at least move to a shaded area, if not an air-conditioned space. Drink plenty of fluids and rest.
If needed, Dawson said contact your health-care provider, a friend, or a family member for assistance.
He stressed the need to take action if any symptoms show up in order to prevent the progression of heat-related illness.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you are caring for someone who has a high body temperature, is unconscious, confused or has stopped sweating.
Although this is expected to just be a two-day heat wave, with significantly cooler weather predicted for the weekend, Dawson said the expectation is for more and more heat waves blanketing Chatham-Kent in the future.
“We expect the number of these multi-day heat events to increase in Chatham-Kent as a result of climate change. Reaching out to friends, family members, and neighbours is essential to ensure they are not suffering heat illness in these situations,” he said.
