With near record temperatures forecasted over the next few days and a heat warning in effect it’s important to know how to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.
“Trying to stay cool. That would be moving into an indoor environment that would be moving to an indoor environment that has air conditioning, they should drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic fluids and also planning your outdoor activities around the cooler time periods in the day. We recommend people do that before 11 am or after 4 pm,” says medical health officer Dr. Sue Pollock.
Heat-related illness is the result of your body gaining heat faster than it can cool itself down.
“Individuals may have very pale, cool and moist skin,” says Dr. Pollock when it comes to recognizing the signs of heat related illness.
“They may be sweating very heavily, they may experience muscle cramping, swelling, fatigue, and weakness. As the heat-related illness increases then may start to experience things like confusion, disorientation, even hallucinations, and this could lead to seizures and a decreased consciences”.
Those at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses include infants and children, people 65 years of age or older and people who do a lot of physical activity or work in a hot environment.
Record temperatures on this day in Williams Lake thirty point seven degrees in 1982 and thirty-three point 3 in 1912 in Quesnel