There is currently a Heat Warning for most of Ontario, including: Sudbury, West-Nipissing, French River, Espanola, Massey, Killarney, and Manitoulin Island.
The combination of heat and substances, including medications, can have escalating effects on symptoms experienced. For example, many medications can have a dehydrating effect and increase body temperature. Please remember the following:
- If you experience heat illness symptoms during extreme heat, immediately move to a cool place and drink liquids. Water is best.
Symptoms of heat illness include dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid breathing, extreme thirst, and decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine. - Drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water, before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
If possible, visit a cool place for a few hours, it could be a tree-shaded area, swimming facility, or an air-conditioned spot such as a public building, shopping mall, grocery store, place of worship, or public library. - Frequently check-in on friends and family to make sure they are cool and hydrated.
To support you we are sharing two relevant resources:
- Supporting people who use substances during extreme heat events in English and French
- Acute Care During Extreme Heat in English and French
Please share these resources widely to help raise awareness and reduce the risk of drug poisonings and related harms.
Information provided by Public Health Sudbury.
