Saskatoon residents encouraged to check in on vulnerable family, neighbours on hot days
The City of Saskatoon plans to ramp up its emergency heat response from Sunday to Wednesday, with a string of hot days expected.
Residents will be able to find relief from the heat at nearby cooling locations, outreach services, wellness checks and water distribution as temperatures rise, a City of Saskatoon news release said.
“Extreme heat can cause serious negative health impacts ranging from dehydration and heat exhaustion to heat stroke and potentially death."
Director of Emergency Management Pamela Golden-McLeod told CTV News the city is most concerned with residents that have health issues, are a little older and may not have air conditioning in their homes.
“Those are the people that we're really trying to reach right now. And the way we do that is we really want Saskatoon residents to think about their friends or family or their neighbours who might be living those kinds of conditions and reach out to them and check on them.”
Golden-McLeod also said some organizations in the city were working on reaching more vulnerable residents.
“They're distributing water. They're arranging for cooling locations.”
The city also reminds residents that swimming in the South Saskatchewan River is prohibited and dangerous.
“The river has many hazards including changing currents and an unstable bottom,” the news release said.
STAYING SAFE
The city is also reminding pet owners to provide plenty of fresh water for pets, to never leave them in parked cars, and watch for signs of heat stress.
People who work outside are encouraged to be safe by drinking extra water, taking plenty of breaks from the sun and modifying work duties to avoid heat illness.
Anyone who is in distress due to the heat can contact 911, the city says. People can also flag down a Saskatoon transit bus for help.
The city said is extending spray pad hours from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. as part of the response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.