Keep family and pets safe during prolonged high temperatures

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on July 10, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

With the entirety of the province under a health advisory due to prolonged hot temperatures, it’s more important than ever to know how to prevent symptoms of heat stroke or exhaustion.

AHS reminds residents that heat stroke is a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, severe restlessness or anxiety, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate, lack of sweat, dizziness and fainting or unconsciousness.

Older adults, infants, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions are at greatest risk from extreme heat, and those who are experiencing symptoms of heat stroke should seek medical attention.

While heat stroke is a serious condition, it is preventable with some caution as awareness of the risk. To that end, AHS has shared a few tips to help mitigate heat and sun exposure.

Health officials recommend keeping shutters, blinds, and awnings closed during the day to keep homes cooler, and use air conditioning if it’s available. For those without a cooling system at home, consider spending time in the basement or in cool public spaces, such as the library or a shaping centre.

Taking frequent cool baths or showers is also recommended.

AHS suggests avoiding strenuous activities, especially while outside, and to consider doing activities earlier in the day or later in the evening. Planned breaks in the shade while outdoors and keeping hydrated with non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks is also a necessity.

While seeking safety from the heat, AHS also reminds residents to be aware of their skin health, and take care to protect themselves from the sun.

“Be aware certain medications increase the health risks from extreme heat exposure,” said AHS officials. “Find out if your medication causes you to be more sensitive to sunlight or heat stress.”

Wearing long sleeves and pants, broad-brimmed hats and ensuring that clothing is UV-protective-labelled can help prevent sunburns, as can water-resistant broad-spectrum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. AHS said to apply sunscreen generously 20 minutes before going outside and reapply frequently and especially after swimming, strenuous exercise or towelling off.

“Many factors can cause heat stress, such as UV radiation, temperature and humidity. Make sure to check on loved ones, especially those who may be socially isolated or live in housing without air conditioning, to see how they are coping,” said AHS.

However, not only humans need shelter and care from the heat, said Adam Jones, owner of All Dogs Great & Small, Dog Daycare and Training.

“With summer in Medicine Hat, obviously we can’t shy away from it. We’re going to be outside, and we’re going to have our dogs outside,” said Jones. “So it’s really important to be aware of some of the signs and symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion in dogs.”

The symptoms are similar to those in humans, said Jones, adding a lack of skin elasticity, a dry nose or paw pads, purple or deep red gums, excessive panting, disorientation, weak legs, sunken eyes, and dark urine or diarrhea to things to look out for when monitoring canine companions.

“It can come up really quickly in dogs. Things can go from perfectly fine to overheated in a matter of minutes,” said Jones. “So it’s really important to be checking in, checking their tongues, and just sort of making sure everything looks good constantly.”

Jones recommends limiting the time dogs are outside, and planning to take walks in the early morning or late evening to beat the heat once the temperature starts to reach roughly 30 degrees. Keeping lots of water on hand for them, and walking them on the grass to avoid burning their paws on the pavement is also recommended.

“Put some on their back, let it roll down their sides, let them step in it, put some on the ground and let them walk through it so they can get it on their pads,” said Jones. “We want to make sure they always have access to fresh water.”

If a dog shows signs of heat stroke, Jones stresses to not give them overly cold water, and to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

“Don’t use cold water or really cold air conditioning,” said Jones. “It can send them into hypothermic shock and be very dangerous. Use slightly cooler than body temperature water on cloth, and set the car to about 23 degrees while you’re on the way to the vet.”

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