With our first official heat wave of the year now kicking in, cooling centres are open in local municipalities.
The City of Quinte West’s cooling centre at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Arena (8 Couch Cres., Trenton) will be open today through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Splash pads are also open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in both Trenton and Frankford.
In Prince Edward County, the arenas in Wellington (111 Belleville Street) and Picton (375 Picton Main Street) are open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to fill up your water bottle or get out of the sun.
Public library branches are also open and air conditioned.
The splash pad at the Picton Fairgrounds (375 Picton Main Street) and Wellington Rotary Beach (1 Beach Street, Wellington) are also open.
For residents of the City of Belleville, the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre and Belleville Public Library are public cooling centres for those needing relief from the heat.
QSWC is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day for cooling and the library is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Splash pads at West Riverside Park, Parkdale Veterans Park and Kinsmen Park are also open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the region lasting through Tuesday night.
Dangerous heat and humidity continues. The first significant heat event of the season with dangerously hot and humid conditions is expected to continue into the week.
What: Daytime highs of 33 to 36 degrees Celsius. Humidex values of 42 to 46. Overnight lows of 22 to 25 degrees Celsius, providing little relief from the heat.
When: Now until Tuesday night.
Additional information: Take action to protect yourself and others – extreme heat can affect everyone’s health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body. Drink water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids. Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside. Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park. Follow the advice of your region’s public health authority. Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind.
