North Glengarry & Cornwall open cooling centres to help residents deal with extreme heat
Environment Canada issued a heat warning for this week across our region
Taking advantage of the Voyant - Alert notification system, North Glengarry Township issued a statement this morning to announce that a cooling centre will be open in Alexandria for residents struggling with the extreme heat that has struck our region.
The community hall (Michel Depratto Hall) at Alexandria’s arena, the Glengarry Sports Palace, will be open each day from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. for residents needing a quiet place to cool down and get a break from the extreme heat event.
In its updated warning today, Environment Canada stated…
A prolonged heat event continues today. Dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected through most of the week.
Daytime highs through much of the week are expected to be 30 to 35 degrees Celsius with humidex values of 40 to 45. There will be little relief through the overnight as lows are expected to be 18 to 23 degrees Celsius with humidex values of 26 to 30. Temperatures and humidex values may be several degrees cooler near the shores of the Great Lakes.
Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category.
Extreme heat can affect everyone's health.
The health risks are greater for older adults, infants and young children, pregnant people, people with physical and/or mental illnesses, and people with disabilities or mobility issues.
Never leave people, particularly children, or pets inside a parked vehicle.
Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately if you or someone you are caring for has a high body temperature and is confused, has stopped sweating or becomes unconscious.
While waiting for help, cool the person right away: move them to a cool place, apply cold water to large areas of the skin and fan the person as much as possible.
Similarly, the City of Cornwall today issued a news release announcing several cooling centres open this week in the Seaway City.
Civic Complex: 100 Water St. E, open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Benson Centre: 800 Seventh St. W, open Monday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cornwall Public Library: 45 Second St E, open Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The city also has two splash pads open every day from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m.
Lamoureux Park: Located along Water Street in Downtown Cornwall
Riverdale Park: Located at Dover Street and Riverdale Avenue
City swimming pools are open for limited hours this week.
June 18: St. Francis Pool (419 2nd St W), 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 19: St. Francis Pool, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Joseph Pool (1310 Easton Ave), 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.June 20: St. Francis Pool, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
June 21: St. Francis Pool, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
We haven’t heard any announcements from the Township of South Glengarry.
If you aren’t familiar with the Voyant - Alert system, both of our county townships subscribe to the service which township staff can use to issue emergency alerts and notifications via text message (to cellphones) and e-mail.
To see the cooling centre alert for North Glengarry, click here.
For more information on the system and to sign up, click here. You will need to create an account on the system, and then you can proceed to add locations for which you would like to receive alerts.
Cornwall’s announcement can be read in full here.
How are you staying cool?
So how are you staying cool this week? Add your tip in the comments.