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Friday marked the start of potentially record breaking heat expected across the province over the next few days.
While Friday’s humidex value was predicted to reach 37 in Saskatoon, Environment Canada’s Julien Corrizeau said humidity levels could rise as high as 40 on Saturday afternoon.
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“It happens from time to time, but it is unusual,” the meteorologist shared. “It’s something that, on average, only happens about once every two or three years.”
Humidex values ranging between 40 and 45, Corrizeau said, register as “great discomfort,” and can come with advice to avoid exertion, as well as a higher risk of heat stroke if values reach over the 40-range.
Corrizeau explained that sweat on our skin, which would typically evaporate and cool our body in the heat, cannot evaporate as easily in humidity due to greater moisture in the air.
“Because we can’t evaporate that sweat it’s harder to stay cool, so it feels hotter to us,” Corrizeau said, which can make humidity more dangerous.
“Unfortunately, the body then responds to that by just sweating more, just increasing the amount of dehydration that a person will experience, and that can cause a wide range of heat exhaustion, heat stroke-like symptoms,” said Russell Grant, president of the Saskatoon Paramedic Association.
On Friday, paramedics in Saskatoon were already responding to some humidity-related incidents, he said.
“We have definitely seen a spike in heat-related calls,” Grant shared.
Corrizeau recommended spending less time outside during the hottest part of the day – late morning to late afternoon — drinking lots of water and using a fan indoors to help evaporate sweat off your body.
It’s important to also watch for signs of heat stroke, Corrizeau and Grant advised: feeling uneasy, a headache and dizziness can all mean it’s time to go inside to cool off. Feeling thirsty, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness can also be signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as well as extreme dizziness or acute confusion.
“You can become unresponsive in extreme circumstances, and those are times when people need to recognize that and call 911 immediately,” Grant warned.
Heat exhaustion can typically be rectified with drinking water and getting out of the heat, he said. This can usually be accomplished by the patient on their own but as symptoms worsen, help might be needed.
Should paramedics be needed, Grant said they would immediately remove someone from the heat, cool their body with air conditioning and cool packs and usually start an IV to help rehydrate that person’s body with fluids.
“It’s not something that we’re very used to in Saskatchewan,” Grant said of the high humidex. “Usually, we have a dry heat, so people may not really realize how much the humidity does affect dehydration.”
He suggested electrolyte substances be consumed as indicated or on the advice of a medical professional to help with hydration in highly humid conditions.
“Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate really is the main thing,” Grant said.
For those who are heading outside for the purpose of sweating – to run or bike in the summer heat – Corrizeau recommended doing those activities more slowly in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are cooler, drinking lots of water and limiting time for those activities.
“Bring two water bottles, if you can,” he said. “Just keep drinking water and maybe don’t try to overexert … this isn’t the time to break personal records.”
Grant offered a reminder of the various cooling facilities and spray pads that have been set up by the City of Saskatoon, and encouraged people to use those stations, as well as spend time indoors to avoid overheating this weekend.
Medavie Health Services has additional resources out on the streets of Saskatoon, Grant added, to support people who are homeless, address heat-related emergencies and issues relating to drug use.
Corrizeau said the possibility exists for more storms to hit on Saturday, so people in the province will want to keep an eye on the temperature as well as the skies over the weekend.
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