The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is making sure some of the area's most vulnerable individuals have a place to cool down as the temperature rises.
The first heat warning of the season was issued for much of southwestern Ontario on Monday with humidex values reaching over 30 C throughout most of the week.
The pandemic has forced the closure of many of the usual spots people would go to cool down, including public pools and libraries. However, according to Emily Armstrong, a health inspector with CK Public Health, the municipality is using its emergency homeless shelter in Chatham as a way to offer relief to those who have nowhere to go.
"People who are experiencing homelessness can certainly go to the homeless shelter, which is located at the Bradley Centre, as a cool off station," she said.
If COVID-19 restrictions weren't in place, there would normally be multiple cooling centres open across the municipality during periods of extreme heat.
"Unfortunately, a lot of those public places that we usually advertise to people that they can go and cool off are no longer open," she explained. "Because we have the homeless shelter open for our homeless population, we're encouraging them to seek out the shelter as a place to cool off."
Armstrong said CK Public Health is encouraging only those experiencing homelessness to attend the Bradley Centre. For other individuals, she recommended following the standard health recommendations for heat including drinking plenty of water, closing the blinds or curtains inside homes, taking frequent breaks when working outside and avoiding strenuous activities between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Although extreme heat can impact anyone, according to Armstrong, there are certain groups that are at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses including the elderly, young children and those with compromised immune symptoms or underlying conditions. Armstrong recommends people keep tabs anyone in their life who may be considered vulnerable to the heat.
"Keeping COVID-19 in mind, we want to make sure when we're checking on our elderly family members and neighbours, that we are practicing social distancing," she said.
Signs of heat exhaustion include rapid breathing, dizziness and extreme thirst. Armstong said anyone exhibiting these symptoms should move to a shaded area right away, rest, drink plenty of fluids and monitor to make sure symptoms are not getting worse. Meanwhile, Armstrong said signs of heatstroke are cause for immediate concern.
"If you're looking after someone who is unconscious or seems very confused or if they stop sweating, that can be a sign of heatstroke, which is a medical emergency," she said. "You should be contacting 9-1-1 or your health care provider right away."