Advice for staying safe during Manitoba’s heatwave

MaryAnn Oprea, acting emergency management coordinator with the City of Winnipeg, shares how to stay cool, hydrated and safe during extreme heat.

With the extreme heat expected to continue across much of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg is offering advice for staying safe.

“I think it’s really important to stay hydrated,” said MaryAnn Oprea, the city’s acting emergency management coordinator, in an interview with Your Morning Winnipeg on Monday.

“There may be vulnerable people that you know are around you, so checking on your vulnerable friends, family, or relatives.”

As of Monday morning, heat warnings remain for several local communities, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, and Selkirk.

According to the weather agency, these communities should expect temperatures in the mid-30s on Monday with humidex values reaching the mid-40s.

Oprea explained extreme temperatures could lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion, which is why it’s important to be prepared.

“[The signs of heat stroke] can range,” she said.

“It can start with headaches. It can start with no sweating as it progresses and gets worse and goes into heat stroke. You can go in and out of consciousness where you will eventually need someone or yourself to call 911.”

To prevent heart-related illnesses, Oprea recommended staying out of the sun, moving to the shade and drinking lots of water. She added that City of Winnipeg facilities, including libraries and leisure centres, are open as public cooling spaces.

“Don’t wait until you’re thirsty,” she said. “Just have water with you and continuously drink it.”

A full list of the City of Winnipeg’s hydration stations, cooling spaces and outdoor pools is available online.

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé