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Heat wave
It's summer. Be cool !

How to stay cool in a heat wave

  • Identify someone to call in case there is a problem.
  • Keep an eye on the weather and use a thermometer to check the temperature inside your home, especially when the temperature reaches 30° C ou 86° F or higher and does not cool off at night.
  • Use an air conditioner to cool your home or spend a few hours in an air-conditioned place such as a shopping centre or movie theatre.
  • Drink a lot of water even before you feel thirsty or in quantities indicated by the doctor.
  • Avoid beverages that cause dehydration : drinks that contain alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, colas), or a lot of sugar.
  • Take cool showers or baths as often as necessary.
  • Avoid activities that require a lot of effort.
  • Protect yourself against the sun : wear lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a hat.

For information and assistance in the City, call 514 630-1234.

In case of general discomfort, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty breathing, chest pain or swelling in the legs, call Info-Santé or your doctor. In case of emergency, call 911.

A few tips to protect your child from dehydration

  • Give your child something to drink more often :
    • breastfeeding babies should be given the breast more often
    • bottle-fed babies should be given water between bottles
  • Avoid bringing your child outdoors between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Don't expose the child to the sun
  • If you have to go out, make sure the child is wearing light clothing that covers the entire body and put a wide-brimmed hat on his or her head
  • When indoors, keep your child in diapers
  • Make sure that there is air circulating around the child's bed and move the bed away from the wall
  • Put the child in a tub of warm water several times a day
  • Never leave a child alone in a car with the windows rolled up or in a closed room, even for a few minutes.
  • Signs of dehydration:
    • Wets his or her diapers less than usual
    • Urinates less often and urine is dark
    • Lips and mouth are dry
    • Cries because he or she is thirsty
    • Sunken eyes and circles under the eyes
    • Sleeps a lot and is hard to awaken
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Abnormal skin colour, pale or red High body tempareture, 38,5° C or over (rectal)
    • Consult a doctor quickly if your child shows any signs of dehydration

© Direction de santé publique de Montréal


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