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By Sheldon Spackman

Shade is your friend

Tips for staying safe during extreme heat

Jun 25, 2021 | 2:56 PM

As central Albertans take to the great outdoors to enjoy the scorching hot temperatures over the next few days, City of Red Deer officials are reminding residents to keep safety in mind.

Emergency Management Co-ordinator Karen Mann says it’s easy to underestimate the potential impacts of extreme heat, noting a number of key, heat-safety tips for people to know.

“Number one is to stay hydrated and drink lots of water,” says Mann. “Plan your day to be indoors or in the shade at the peak periods of sun and heat throughout the day, and to take lots of breaks and get out of the heat and the direct exposure to sunlight on a regular basis. Stay cool and dress down. Shade is definitely your friend.”

Mann says it’s important to be aware that extreme heat can be particularly challenging for more vulnerable segments of the population.

“If you have people in your life who are maybe more susceptible to heat, so people who have certain medical conditions, senior citizens or the elderly, people who live alone, especially people who may not be able to access cooler spaces, check in with them and make sure that they’re doing OK.”

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Mann further reminds residents that children and pets should also not be left alone in hot cars.

“Hot cars can absolutely be deadly in this heat in a very short period of time. Even leaving the window open a crack in this type of heat is not necessarily sufficient to keep pets and small children safe.”

If you spot a resident in distress from the heat or someone in need of non-emergency help, Red Deerians can call 211 and press 2.

For those planning a float down the Red Deer River, Mann says it’s important to access the river safely for starters and be prepared for a variety of circumstances.

“If you’re going to be tubing or floating in or around the river, watching your pets and your children closely as the river can be unpredictable and it can be fast-flowing in places and it can vary from one spot along the river to another.

“If you are going to be tubing, do so sober, always have life jackets and make sure that you plan your trips so that you know where you’re going to be arriving and when, and that people know your estimated timeline so that they are watching for you in case you have any emergencies along the river.”

For those planning an evening around the backyard fire pit, Mann suggests first familiarizing yourself with the rules surrounding them.

“Always be mindful to fully extinguish your fire before you leave it,” she implores. “Never leave a fire in a fire pit or otherwise unattended to ensure that the fire is fully out before you leave it. Especially if things are hot. Things can get dry and we don’t want anybody’s summer fun to be ruined by a fire that gets away on them.”

For information on The City of Red Deer’s fire pit policies, click here.