Facilities Available to Local Residents to Stay Cool
Written by admin, July 16, 2013
July 16, 2013 – Public Health Offers Tips to Prevent Heat-Related Illness
The Peterborough Public Health is advising local residents at risk of heat-related illness that the following public facilities in Peterborough have air conditioning and water available:
- Brock Mission (217 Murray St.): fully air conditioned; residents of Brock Mission are able to stay inside, especially during this heat alert; water is available to residents and to those that just come in (ie. some that are not residents).
- Cameron House (738 Chemong Rd.): partially air conditioned (third floor space – common room – is air conditioned); residents of Cameron House are able to stay inside; water is available.
- Youth Emergency Shelter (196 Brock St.) (shelter for youth and families): fully air conditioned; residents are able to stay inside through the day; water is available through refrigerated water dispenser in front lobby area.
- Lighthouse Drop-In Centre (St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 99 Brock St., Lower Hall): air conditioned; water is available through a water cooler; will be open from 9-5 over the next few days.
- Peterborough City and County Social Services (178 Charlotte St.): water is available in the lobby.
Another way to keep cool during this extreme heat event is by enjoying public beaches, splash pads and shaded areas throughout the city:
- Public beaches: Beavermead and Rogers Cove) are supervised from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
- Public splash pads (King Edward Park and Nicholls Oval Park) are open 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (for the next few days only) – then back to normal closure of 8:00 p.m.
- City wading pools are also open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following parks:
- BARNARDO PARK (955 Barnardo Ave.)
- KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PARK (5 Park St. N.)
- TURNER PARK (673 Chamberlain St.)
- CHELSEA GARDENS PARKS (964 Southlawn Dr.)
- JOHN TAYLOR MEMORIAL PARK (500 McKeller St.)
- NICHOLL’S OVAL PARK (725 Armour Rd.)
- KING EDWARD PARK (455 George St. S.)
Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned, such as shopping malls, public libraries, and other air-conditioned public buildings. Residents wanting to access cool spaces are reminded to check hours of operation ahead of time. The Public Health also encourages residents to drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages and to increase their fluid intake regardless of their activity level.
“People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves,” said Donna Churipuy, Manager of Environmental Health Programs at Public Health. “The body normally cools itself by sweating, however under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. In such cases, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly.”
“Heat-related deaths are absolutely preventable, so people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death,” Ms. Churipuy emphasized. “The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. Older adults are at increased risk of heat related illness because they may have a reduced thirst sensation, reduced fitness level, reduced sweating ability and increased susceptibility to chronic dehydration.”
Ms. Churipuy added that Infants and young children are also at risk because of increased body heat production during physical activity, faster heat gain from the environment if air temperature is greater than skin temperature, inability to increase cardiac output and reduced sweating. They are dependent upon caregivers to recognize heat impacts and take actions.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
705-743-1000, ext. 391