Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment

Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement

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Heat Extremes Questionnaire

Disclaimer:

The PeriPHAT tool is meant to offer tips. It is not for emergencies. For an emergency, please call 911. For non-emergency related health advice, call 811.

Introduction

Pregnancy brings changes that can make it harder for the body to cope with heat. Babies and young children are not fully developed and can also have difficulty handling hot temperatures.

Questions in this part of the PeriPHAT tool are here to help guide you and your family when preparing for extreme heat events.

General questions (for each table):

The designers of this tool ask the following questions to ensure that this tool is helpful to clients and families from diverse backgrounds, identities and life circumstances.

Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) Central Canada (Ontario and Quebec) Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) North (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
urban area suburban area rural/remote area
Yes No
Low-income and housing insecure Low income and housing secure Middle income High income You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Man Woman LGBTQ+ Two-Spirit Intersex You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)
Indigenous Newcomers Refugees seeking asylum Black Latin-X Asian Person of Colour White You do not have an option that applies to me. I identify as (open-ended)

Disclaimer

These may be challenging questions and topics for you to think about. If you are currently struggling with your mental health, please contact your primary care or mental health care provider, local medical or community health centre or call 811 for support. First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310. If you are feeling suicidal, please contact 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room. You can also call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988, for help anywhere in Canada.

Understanding dangerous or extreme weather is important to prepare yourself and your family.

Some areas of Canada do not have a stable internet connection, especially if they often have storms. This could affect access to important information related to these events.

Yes Yes but interested to learn more No

Exposure to heat can lead to a range of mild to severe heat-related illnesses, including dehydration“When your body loses too much fluid” (HealthLinkBC) , heat exhaustionwhen the body gets too hot from being in high temperatures for too long. and strokeA serious illness that happens when the body gets too hot from being in high temperatures for too long..

Yes No

A) What are some ways to protect myself and my family during extreme heat events?

Keeping you and your family safe during an extreme heat event during pregnancy and with young children is especially important. When you are pregnant, certain changes happen to your body, making it more difficult to adapt to heat. Similarly, newborns and young children are also more at risk of extreme heat because their bodies are not fully developed, changing how well they can adapt to hot weather. Take extra care if you are late in your pregnancy.

There are three key things you can do during an extreme heat event:

  • Be informed: Keep up to date with local weather forecasts and alerts and arrange for regular and frequent check-ins on your family members, neighbours or friends in case they need help.
  • Get hydrated: Drink plenty of water, before you feel thirsty.
  • Stay cool: The most effective way to protect yourself from extreme heat indoors is to take a number of actions together, such as:
    • staying hydrated
    • using air conditioning
    • blocking the sun by closing awnings
    • curtains or blinds during the day
    • using fans
    • taking cool showers or baths
    • making meals that don’t need to be cooked in the oven
    • spending time in a cool place like a community center or library

Remember to never leave people or pets in your care inside a parked vehicle.

Continue to follow the advice of local and provincial health authorities on how to protect themselves and others during this heat event and to understand what resources are available to you to keep cool in their area. When there is an extreme heat event occurring with wildfire smoke, prioritize keeping cool, because overheating can be more dangerous to your health.

Want to learn more? Check out these resources:

B) Recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Watch for the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, as these can rapidly evolve into life-threatening emergencies. Listen to your body and take action if you or someone around you is experiencing signs or symptoms. Exposure to extreme heat can cause a range of mild to severe heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion, which include:

  • headache
  • nausea or vomiting
  • dizziness or fainting
  • rapid breathing and heartbeat
  • extreme thirst (dry mouth or sticky saliva)
  • decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine
  • changes of behaviour in children (like sleepiness or temper tantrums)

If you have any of these symptoms during extreme heat, move to a cool place and drink liquids right away. Water is best.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Watch out for the signs and symptoms of heat stroke which may include:

  • high body temperature
  • confusion and lack of coordination
  • dizziness or fainting
  • very hot or red skin

If you or anyone in your care experiences any of these signs and symptoms, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, cool the person right away by:

  • fanning the person as much as possible
  • moving them to a cool place, if you can
  • applying cold water to large areas of their skin or clothing

Want to learn more? Visit these links:

C) Warning signs/Health Impacts of Extreme Heat in Children:

Newborn’s and young children’s bodies aren’t fully developed, making them more at risk for heat-related illnesses. Signs and symptoms to watch out for, as well as prevention tips/interventions:

Dehydration is when your body loses too much fluid. This can be dangerous for babies and young children.

Dehydration in Babies:

  • Mild: they may pee less than usual
  • Moderate: They may shed fewer tears, their eyes and mouth may be dry, they may have a soft, sunken spot on the top of their head, and they have not had a wet diaper in 6 hours.
  • Severe: No wet diaper in 12 hours; they may be hard to wake up, their mouth and eyes will be very dry and have no tears when crying.
  • They could also have sunken eyes, grayish skin, and a faster heartbeat.

Intervention: If you suspect your baby is dehydrated, get advice from your healthcare provider, healthcare team, or walk-in medical clinic or urgent care centre for more information as soon as possible. A common intervention is oral rehydration solution, or ORS. This liquid contains certain amounts of water, salts, and sugars for rehydration. Your healthcare team will let you know what is best.

Dehydration in Young Children:

  • Mild: they may pee less than usual and will be more thirsty
  • Moderate: they may be a lot more thirsty than usual, their mouth and eyes may be drier than usual, they will pass only a small amount of urine in 8 hours, and they may feel dizzy when they stand up.
  • Severe: Their mouth and eyes will be very dry, they may pass only a small amount of urine in 12 hours, they may be too weak or dizzy to stand and they may pass out.

Intervention: If you suspect your child is dehydrated, get advice from your healthcare provider, healthcare team, walk-in medical clinic, or urgent care centre for more information as soon as possible. A common intervention for this is oral rehydration solution (ORS). This liquid is made up of certain amounts of water, salts, and sugars for rehydration. Your healthcare team will let you know what is best.

Heatstroke in babies and young children: If your child has a high body temperature, has stopped sweating, and is confused or unconscious, this could be heatstroke and is a medical emergency. Call 911.

Prevention:

  • Try to plan outdoor activities during cooler times of the day, such as early morning or evening
  • Use these tips for sun safety: Sun Safety Tips for Parents
  • Never leave children in a parked vehicle
  • Keep them hydrated:
Prevention strategies
0-6 Months 6 Months and Older 1 Year and Older
  • Offer more chest/breast/formula feedings
  • Don’t offer water unless recommended by your healthcare team
  • Try putting a layer, such as a cloth or sheet, between you and your baby during feeding times
  • Try chest or breastfeeding lying down
  • If you are chest or breastfeeding, you must stay hydrated and have a non-alcoholic, low-sugar drink during feedings and other fluids.
  • Offer extra chest/breast/formula feeds
  • Offer extra amounts of cool water after or in between feeds
  • Continue to breastfeed/chest feed if doing so regularly offer water and regularly offer water as the main drink
  • Aim to have your child drink 1.5L (4-6 cups) of water
  • Have them eat extra fruits and vegetables which have high water content
  • Have them drink small amounts of fluids more often
  • Avoid drinks that are high in sugar as these do not properly rehydrate your child

Please ask your healthcare provider, healthcare team, or walk-in medical clinic for more information. If you have any non-emergent questions, call 811; for emergencies, call 911.

For more information/prevention tips:

For additional information, you can go to CANE-ACIIE Heat Extreme Guide