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

Murder charge laid in killing of B.C. Mountie
The day after an RCMP officer was killed and two others were injured while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam, B.C., charges of murder and attempted murder have been laid.
Sikh groups ask Canadian political parties to present 'united front' against India
Two groups in the Canadian Sikh diaspora are calling for Canada's political parties to "present a united front" on India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a "potential link" between the shooting death of a local leader and the Indian government.
A Black student was suspended for his hairstyle. Now his family is suing Texas officials
The family of a Black high school student in Texas who was suspended over his dreadlocks filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Saturday against the state's governor and attorney general, alleging they failed to enforce a new law outlawing discrimination based on hairstyles.
Moneris says systems back online after users across Canada report outages affecting debit, credit payments
The payment processing company Moneris says it has resolved an outage that appeared to affect debit and credit transactions across the country.
EXCLUSIVE 'Shared intelligence' from Five Eyes informed Trudeau's India allegation: U.S. ambassador
There was 'shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners' that informed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's public allegation of a potential link between the government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen, United States Ambassador to Canada David Cohen confirmed to CTV News.
Manitoba could make history by electing first First Nations premier to lead province
A First Nations premier would head a province for the first time in Canadian history if the New Democrats win the Oct. 3 Manitoba election, and the significance is not lost on party leader Wab Kinew.
Canada's international student program faced with 'integrity challenges,' senators say in push for reform
A group of Canadian senators is proposing a series of reforms to the country's international student program that include ways of protecting newcomers from fraud and abuse, as well as greater regulations and penalties for recruiters and educational institutions.
B.C. Mountie's death reverberates across law enforcement community
The death of a Metro Vancouver RCMP officer who was shot dead while executing a search warrant is reverberating with law enforcement officials across the country.
Smoke prevents Yellowknife from holding welcome home celebration
Smoke has forced Yellowknife to cancel a celebration marking the return of residents to the city after a wildfires-prompted evacuation that lasted for weeks.