With hot, humid weather in the forecast for the next few days, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit has issued a severe heat and humidity advisory for residents of the five Eastern Counties. A heat advisory is issued when the humidex is expected to be 36 or higher for at least two consecutive days. The humidex is a scale that indicates the level of personal discomfort resulting from a combination of heat and humidity.

During a heat advisory, everyone is at risk, but some groups are more vulnerable than others. They include young children, the elderly, people who exercise vigorously or who are involved in strenuous work outdoors for prolonged periods, and the chronically ill.

“The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is working with municipalities to create daytime cooling centres. People who need to escape the heat during the day can visit any of the designated daytime cooling centres,” explains Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. Residents can either visit their municipality online for the list of locations, or they can call their municipality for more information.

What can you do to prevent heat injury?

• Drink plenty of water and avoid liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar.
• Stay indoors. Stay cool by taking cool showers or wetting your hands, face and the back of your neck.
• Avoid vigorous exercise in the heat (this includes children as well). If you have a young child or a child with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, do not allow them to partake in sporting events or exercise during heat waves especially when there is a heat/humidity advisory in effect.
• Keep your home cool by limiting the use of your oven/stove.
• Turn off unnecessary lights. 
• Keep windows slightly open during the day. 
• At night, open windows wide to cool the house. 
• Never leave children or pets in a parked car.

For the complete list of tips and warning signs of illness, visit www.eohu.ca . You can also call the Eastern Ontario Health Unit at 613-933-1375 or at 1 800 267-7120 and ask for the Health Line.