This video presents Ontario Ministry of Labour explaining heat stress:
Toronto, in Ontario, Canada, has upgraded the Heat Alert to an Extreme Heat Alert starting today, July 4, 2012.
- The Extreme Heat Alert will be in effect until further notice.
- The public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids.
- Other groups at risk include:
- people with:
- chronic illnesses
- limited mobility
- certain mental health illnesses
- infants and young children
- people on certain medications
- those who are homeless
- people with:
- Other groups at risk include:
In addition to using air conditioned shopping malls, local libraries and neighbourhood community centres as places to cool off, cooling centres are open during Extreme Heat Alerts for those in need at the following locations:
- Metro Hall – 55 John St. (24 hours)
- East York Civic Centre – 850 Coxwell Ave. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- North York Civic Centre – 5100 Yonge St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Driftwood Community Centre – 4401 Jane St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Etobicoke Olympium – 590 Rathburn Rd. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- McGregor Community Centre – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Centennial Park Community Centre – 1967 Ellesmere Rd. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
Water and snacks are available at the above seven cooling centres.
- Please click here for the interactive map of the cooling centres and air conditioned public places with the Cool Down Here sign posted.
- Beat the heat by visiting an air conditioned public place with the Cool Down Here sign posted (as shown below):
As well, during Extreme Heat Alerts:
- Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division of Toronto extends operating hours of certain City pools.
- Between July 2 and September 2, some outdoor pools extend their hours until 11:45 pm during Extreme Heat Alerts with low probability of precipitation.
- As a result of this Extreme Heat Alert, the City of Toronto’s extended hours pool program is in effect to help residents cool off.
- The following eight pools will be open until 11:45 p.m.:
- Alex Duff Memorial Pool, 779 Crawford Ave.
- Alexandra Park Pool, 275 Bathurst St.
- Cummer Park Indoor Pool, 6000 Leslie St.
- Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool, 1369 St. Clair Ave. W.
- McGregor Park Outdoor Pool, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
- Monarch Park Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
- Sunnyside-Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
- Smithfield Outdoor Pool, 175 Mount Olive Dr.
- For information about pool locations and operating hours, call 311 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/parks/swimming/extended.htm.
- Members of the public are also advised to “beat the heat” by taking these precautions:
- Drink lots of cool water even before you feel thirsty
- Take cool showers or baths or use cool, wet towels to cool down
- Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing and when outdoors wear a wide-brimmed hat
- Avoid the sun and stay in the shade or use an umbrella
- Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day
- Never leave seniors, children or pets unattended in a car.
- Landlords of buildings without air conditioning are encouraged to provide a dedicated cooling room for residents to escape the heat.
- Community agencies are encouraged to educate clients on the risks of heat-related illness and to call or check those clients at increased risk of heat-related illness during alerts.
When an alert is declared:
- those who need assistance or have heat-related inquiries may call City of Toronto:
- Phone within Toronto city limits: 311
- Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489) (can be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311)
- TTY customers: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
- Fax: 416-338-0685
- E-mail: 311@toronto.ca
- If your matter is urgent, please call them. They are open 24/7
- Always call 911 for emergencies
- more information about How to Beat the Heat is available at www.toronto.ca/health
- often high air pollution occurs during hot weather conditions
- People with heart and lung conditions, seniors and children should pay special attention to the hourly Air Quality Health Index levels and forecasts which are available at www.airhealth.ca
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NEWS RELEASE
July 4, 2012
Heat Alert upgraded to Extreme Heat Alert, Toronto cooling centres open
Dr. David McKeown, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, has upgraded the Heat Alert to an Extreme Heat Alert for Toronto today. The Extreme Heat Alert will be in effect until further notice.
During an Extreme Heat Alert, the public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids. Other groups at risk include people with chronic illnesses, limited mobility and with certain mental health illnesses, infants and young children, people on certain medications and those who are homeless.
In addition to using air conditioned shopping malls, local libraries and neighbourhood community centres as places to cool off, cooling centres are open during Extreme Heat Alerts for those in need at the following locations:
• Metro Hall – 55 John St. (24 hours)
• East York Civic Centre – 850 Coxwell Ave. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• North York Civic Centre – 5100 Yonge St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Driftwood Community Centre – 4401 Jane St. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Etobicoke Olympium – 590 Rathburn Rd. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• McGregor Community Centre – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Centennial Park Community Centre – 1967 Ellesmere Rd. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
Water and snacks are available at the seven cooling centres. Additional information on ways to help people cool off is available at http://www.toronto.ca/housing/cooling-centres.htm.
Members of the public are also advised to “beat the heat” by taking these precautions:
• Drink lots of cool water even before you feel thirsty
• Take cool showers or baths or use cool, wet towels to cool down
• Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing and when outdoors wear a
wide-brimmed hat
• Avoid the sun and stay in the shade or use an umbrella
• Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day
• Never leave seniors, children or pets unattended in a car.
Landlords of buildings without air conditioning are encouraged to provide a dedicated cooling room for residents to escape the heat. Community agencies are encouraged to educate clients on the risks of heat-related illness and to call or check those clients at increased risk of heat-related illness during alerts.
When an alert is declared, those who need assistance or have heat-related inquiries may call 311.
More information about How to Beat the Heat is available at www.toronto.ca/health.
Often high air pollution occurs during hot weather conditions. People with heart and lung conditions, seniors and children should pay special attention to the hourly Air Quality Health Index levels and forecasts which are available at www.airhealth.ca.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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