How Winnipeg is helping residents beat the heat this summer
With Winnipeg experiencing scorching hot weather, the city is taking steps to help keep residents safe and cool.
This year, as part of a pilot project, the City of Winnipeg has set up three hydration stations located in Central Park, at the Bell Tower, and at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre.
“These are permanent – 24 hours, seven days a week—stations where you can access clean drinking water,” said Mike Olczyk, the city’s acting emergency management coordinator, in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Monday.
Olczyk noted the city has also partnered with six community centres to offer cooling spaces during select hours. These community centres include the Bronx Park Community Centre, Linden Woods Community Centre, Luxton Community Centre, Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre, Riverview Community Centre, and South Transcona Community Centre.
Winnipeggers can also go to leisure centres and libraries to cool off during regular operating hours, as well as city-operated pools and spray pads.
TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE
Olczyk said that extreme heat is a growing hazard that can affect anyone, which is why it is important to be careful. He noted that even a healthy person can be affected by heat depending on how high the temperature is and how long the exposure is.
“Our bodies need to maintain a consistent temperature and that can be very difficult during extreme heat events,” he said.
“The key thing then is that you can be exposed to heat-related illness in those kinds of events,”
Olczyk said it is important to check the forecast and plan for ways to stay cool.
“One of the key things is staying hydrated. So don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water,” he said.
The City of Winnipeg offers the following tips for staying safe in the summer:
- Hydrate;
- Stay in the shade;
- Wear a hat and loose-fitting clothes;
- Plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day;
- Take a cool bath or shower;
- Check in on family members and those who may be vulnerable;
- Wear sunscreen and sunglasses;
- Call 911 if someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion; and
- Pack cool drinks.
- With files from CTV’s Ainsley McPhail.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.