Stay hydrated, stay in cool places, and don't leave pets or people in parked vehicles.
That's the message from Environment Canada, as the agency issued a heat warning for all of northwestern Ontario.
Daytime temperatures will reach the mid-thirties this weekend, with overnight lows near 18, offering little relief from the heat.
Sunday night will offer a reprieve from the heat, but meteorologists say the extreme heat may return for the early part of next week.
On Friday, Kenora broke a 33-year-old heat record.
The highest temperature recorded in Kenora on June 4 was 32.4 C in 1988.
Around 5 p.m. Friday afternoon, the temperature in Kenora reached 35.8 C setting a new record.
The Kenora area could break another heat record today. The heat record for June 5 is 33.1 C, the forecasted high for today is 32 C.
Below are some tips for dealing with hot weather:
- Planning ahead to reorganize activities if it is too hot.
- Drinking cool liquids, especially water, before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Avoid drinks that are high in sugar, caffeine, or alcohol as they can increase the amount of water lost by your body.
- Seeking shade and avoiding sun exposure. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, wear clothing that covers your skin, and using an umbrella for shade.
- Wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing made of breathable fabric
- Taking a break from the heat by going to a cooler place.
- Spend a few hours in an air-conditioned building, public pool, or taking a swim in the lake.
- Taking cool showers or baths until you feel refreshed.
- Blocking out the sun from your house by closing curtains or blinds during the day.
- Avoiding doing a lot of exercise or hard work.
- Never leave people or pets in your care inside a parked car or in direct sunlight.
- Visiting or checking on neighbours, friends or family members who might be at greater risk, to make sure they are cool and hydrated.
- Checking with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medications you are taking increase health risk in heat or sun.
Signs and symptoms of heat illness include:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fainting
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Confusion
- Extreme thirst
- Decreased urination with dark yellow urine
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat