Tips during a heat wave

Jul 29, 2009

I found this info on the City of Surrey web site. My additions are in red

TIPS DURING A HEAT WAVE

Extreme Heat-wave with Temperatures above 32°C to Persist through mid-week (July 27-Aug 2)

  • Never leave childen alone in a parked car. Leaving the car windows slightly open or “cracked” will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature.
  • Never leave pets inside a parked car even if it’s in the shade, even if it’s just for a few minutes while you run an errand. Picture this,

    shut your engine off, crack the windows slightly as you would if you were leaving your pet in the car. Sit for a while and notice how uncomfortable it gets. Now put on a coat. Yes, a coat. Because your pet is wearing a perpetual fur coat and what seems comfortable to you will be hot for your pet. Courtesy Animal Rescue League Blog

  • Drink plenty of water. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.
  • Same goes for all your pets
  • Avoid sunburn, stay in the shade or use sunscreen.
  • Animals can also get sunburn – keep sun exposure to a minimum during heat waves
  • To keep cool on hot days stay indoors in air-conditioned facilities. At indoor temperatures above 35 C, fans are not effective in preventing heat related illness.
  • Limit daytime outdoor activity to early morning and late afternoon.
  • Avoid tiring work or exercise in heat.
  • Check regularly on older people or those unable to leave their homes, for sign of heat-related illness.

Every year, dogs die after being locked inside cars while their owners leave them to shop or run errands, often for “just a few minutes.” These tragedies occur with alarming frequency, yet the animals’ deaths are completely preventable.

“People mean well by taking their dogs or other animals along with them while they work, visit, shop or run errands, but warm weather can turn a car into a death trap,” said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth.

A Stanford University test found that when it is 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature can rocket to 116 degrees within an hour, even with windows cracked. When it is 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 102 degrees in 10 minutes and 120 degrees in 20 minutes. A dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. Courtesy mydogiscool.com