High Heat, Humidity Can Cause Health Problems

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection is advising Nova Scotians to follow some basic heat safety precautions as temperatures heat up this summer to avoid illness due to high heat and humidity.

Environment Canada is predicting hot and humid weather over the next few days especially in the inland areas, with the humidex reaching the mid 30s, increasing the risk of heat stress and other heat-related illness.

Those most at risk of getting sick as a result of high heat and humidity are preschoolers, adults aged 65 or older, people of any age who overexert themselves during work or exercise, and people who are sick or on certain medications.

Heat-related illness occurs when the body's temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating, but when the humidity and temperature are high, sweating may not be effective enough. Signs of heat illness include rapid breathing, headache, weakness or fainting, confusion and more tiredness than usual.

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection, together with Environment Canada, has a process in place to monitor the humidity so the public can be alerted when to take some precautions to avoid heat-related illness.

"We encourage all people to exercise care when out in the sun and heat as temperatures near the 30 degree mark," said Dr. Richard Gould, a medical officer of health in Nova Scotia. "You may want to plan your outdoor activities either in the early morning or in the evening, be sure to drink plenty of fluids."

Health officials suggest that employers offer adequate breaks for staff working outdoors or in places that are not air-conditioned. He also said that organizers of sport and recreational activities should build in adequate water breaks.

Dehydration can increase the risk for heat-related illnesses.
Children, pets and the elderly should not be left in vehicles during high temperatures as the inside of cars can become dangerously hot.

Similar in concept to winter's wind-chill factor, the humidex is a measure developed by meteorologists to describe how heat and relative humidity combine to make it feel hotter than it actually is. The humidex takes into account the two important factors that affect summer comfort -- temperature and humidity -- and is therefore a better measure of how stifling the air feels.

For important heat safety tips go to www.gov.ns.ca/health/ocmoh . The daily humidex level can be found at www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada_e.html .