Protecting Yourself in Extreme Heat

People suffer heat-related illnesses when their body temperature quickly rises and they are unable to cool themselves. The risk of heat-related illness increases with the amount of time spent in the heat, the temperature and an individual’s sensitivity to heat. As a result of climate change, extreme heat events are posing a growing public health risk in Canada.

Here are some tips to avoid heat related illness:

Drink plenty of fluids, regardless of your activity level
Avoid caffeinated drinks or alcoholic beverages as these can cause you to lose more body fluid
Avoid strenuous work or sports activities during the intense sunlight hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the UV index is three or higher between April and September
Wear light-coloured clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, seek shade, and wear sunscreen with an SPF 30
- For more information, check out our sun safety page
Do not leave children or pets in vehicles
Pay special attention to vulnerable populations including small children, neighbors, individuals with health conditions and older adults as they are at higher risk of developing heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Environment Canada issues heat warnings as they are predicted.

Sign up for Updates

For the most up to date information on weather, visit Environment Canada’s website at: www.weather.gc.ca.

For more information:

Infographic: Staying Healthy in the Heat

Keep children cool! Protect Your Child from Extreme Heat

You’re active in the heat. You’re at risk! Protect Yourself from Extreme Heat

It’s way too hot! Protect Yourself from Extreme Heat

Resources for Health Care Workers & Professionals:

	Communicating the Health Risks of Extreme Heat Events: Toolkit for Public Health and Emergency Management Officials – identifies best communication practices, challenges faced by heat-vulnerable people, and scientifically informed public heat-health messages and explanations. In addition, it provides communication strategies to follow when developing heat-health communication campaigns
	Extreme Heat Events Guidelines: Technical Guide for Health Care Workers – is an evidence-based technical guide for health care workers that provides information on recognizing, treating and preventing extreme heat-related illnesses.
	The Heat Alert and Response Systems to Protect Health: Best Practices Guidebook – outlines best practices implemented in Canada and other countries and discusses steps that communities can take to mitigate heat-health risks and promote heat resiliency among Canadians. Guidelines will include: health promotion and injury prevention for vulnerable individuals; risk assessment of individuals for health practitioners; identification of heat illness signs and symptoms; and clinical recommendations to reduce health risks.
	Extreme Heat Events Guidelines: User Guide for Health Care Workers and Heath Administrators – is a summary document containing key figures and content from the technical guide to provide policy guidance to health care organisations and institutions.
	Fact Sheets for Health Care Workers – provides health care workers with information to enhance their understanding of vulnerability to extreme heat, and their ability to identify effective preventions and mitigation measures. The targeted fact sheets have been developed for three distinct audiences: Acute Care, Community Care and Facilities Preparation. Acute Care During Extreme Heat Recommendations and Information for Health Care Workers Community Care During Extreme Heat Illness: Prevention and Preliminary Care
	Adapting to Extreme Heat Events: Guideline for Assessing Health Vulnerability – provides guidance for conducting heat-health vulnerability and adaptation assessments as a means to better understand vulnerabilities and stimulate action to reduce individual and community vulnerability.