Alberta Health Services offering simple precautions to protect you from heat and sun

Keep cool at home:

Close your blinds or curtains and use awnings and shutters.
Do activities early or later in the day when it is cooler.
Use air conditioning if possible. If you don’t have air conditioning, go into the basement or visit a cool location, such as a shopping centre or library.
Take frequent cool showers or baths and apply a cold towel to your neck

Keep cool when outdoors:

Plan a place to take breaks in the shade to cool off.
Drink lots of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated.
Avoid strenuous activities if possible.

Protect your skin from the sun:

Wear a broad-rimmed hat, long-sleeved shirts and pants that cover skin with UV-protective-labelled clothing.
Be aware certain medications increase the health risks from extreme heat exposure. Find out if your medication causes you to be more sensitive to sunlight or heat stress.
Choose a water-resistant sunscreen that has a broad-spectrum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen generously 20 minutes before going outside and reapply frequently and especially after swimming, strenuous exercise or toweling off.

Pay attention to your pets:

Make sure they have fresh water and keep them out of the heat as much as possible.
Never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle.
Brush your pets coat to promote air circulation. Do not shave them as their fur protects them from the sun.
Use a spray bottle to give pets a cool misting.
Walk pets on the grass if possible and take walks during cooler times of the day.

by Nathaniel Leigh