Extreme Heat

Heat rash and muscle cramps, to more dangerous hot weather emergencies like heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Symptoms and treatment

Heat Exhaustion	Heat Stroke
What is it?
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses an excessive amount of water and salt found in sweat.  It can develop after exposure to high temperatures without enough fluid replacement. It can lead to heat stroke if it is left untreated.	Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature rises rapidly (to 40°C/104°F or above) and the body is unable to cool down.  It can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Symptoms
Dizziness Headache Nausea or vomiting Weak pulse Heavy sweating Pale skin  Weakness/exhaustion Muscle cramps	Dizziness Headache Nausea or vomiting Strong pulse Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)  Confusion  Loss of consciousness
Treatment
Move the person to a cooler location Encourage the person to cool down by sponging with cool (not cold) water, taking a shower, bath or swim Provide sips of cool water	Dial 911 - This is a medical emergency! While waiting for medical assistance, help the person to cool down by sponging with cool (not cold) water Do not give the person any fluids (this may cause the person to vomit or choke)

Who is at risk?

Although extreme heat can affect everyone, some people are more at risk than others for heat-related illnesses, including: Infants and children Seniors People with chronic diseases or medical conditions (heart disease, respiratory conditions, diabetes, etc.) People taking certain medications (for high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, etc.) People who exercise vigorously or work outdoors People who are isolated or have limited mobility People who are homeless People who are overweight People with mental illness, dementias or addictions

Tips to beat the heat

During extreme heat, the most important thing is to keep cool and avoid additional stress on your body.

Here are some important tips:

Plan for the summer heat!

Check your local weather forecasts for temperature, humidex advisories and UV index or visit Environment Canada for special weather statements Check regularly on family, friends or neighbours who are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses or do not have air conditioning If you take medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist regarding side effects during extreme heat Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine Do not leave people or pets unattended in a car

Stay cool

Outdoors

• Schedule physical outdoor activities in the morning and evening hours when it is cooler
• Reduce activity and rest often in shady areas 
• Choose lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection and sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher  

Indoors

• Stay indoors in cool, well-ventilated areas
• Use fans with caution, always keep a window or door open to bring in outside air
• Close blinds and drapes to reduce heat entering your home
• Take a cool shower or bath, or wet your hands, face and the back of your neck
• If the outdoor temperature is cooler at night, open windows to let the cool air in
• If you are not in an air-conditioned environment and unable to stay cool, go to a public building such as a library, community centre, shopping mall or public pool

Visit your local municipality's website for more information on where you can stay cool in your area:

 

York Region Heat Advisories

York Region issues a heat advisory when Environment Canada issues a humidex advisory for York-Durham. Environment Canada issues humidex advisories when the temperature is expected to reach or exceed 30°C and the humidex is expected to reach or exceed 40. The York Region extreme heat program runs annually from May 15th to September 30th.

Year	Date heat advisory issued	Number of days heat advisory was in effect
2010	July 5 August 4 August 30	4 1 4
2011	May 31 June 8 July 20	1 1 2

Additional Resources

Extreme Heat Events - Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/heat-chaleur-eng.php

Climate Change & Health - Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/climat/index-eng.php

Extreme Heat - York Region Emergency Management
www.york.ca/Services/Emergency+Management/What+to+do+if.../4.4.4.+Extreme+heat.htm

Plant Trees, Build Shade; for Your Health and the Environment - York Region's Sun Sense Coalition
www.sunsafeyork.org

Heat Stress (Health and Safety Guidelines) - Ontario Ministry of Labour
www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/gl_heat.php

Extreme Heat & Your Health brochure

For more information on this or other health-related topics, please call
York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933.

Vaughan votes to retain hospital lands

By Adam Martin-Robbins

The city will not hand over the hospital lands to the Vaughan Health Campus of Care.
Council voted unanimously, following a special closed-door meeting Monday, to retain ownership of the entire 87-acre property on the north side of Major Mackenzie Drive, across from Canada’s Wonderland, and to renegotiate the agreement it struck with the campus of care group in 2009.
“I think that because of some of the static and noise that existed on this file in the past, I felt it was necessary to clarify some fundamental issues,” Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said. “And one of them is that the citizens of Vaughan are, in fact, the most important players in building the hospital and the land is actually land that belongs to the citizens of Vaughan and we wanted to get that message out there loud and clear.”
The city agreed to put up $80 million to purchase and develop the property as a health care campus, complete with a hospital and ancillary services, two years ago. It then introduced a special tax levy to raise the funds.
Under an agreement struck at the time, ownership of the property was to be transferred to the Vaughan Health Campus of Care, which was spearheading the project, when planning for the future hospital reached the third stage of the five-stage provincial approval process.
A short time later, however, the province put York Central Hospital in charge of planning the future hospital.
Still, the agreement between the city and the campus of care group remained in place and the organization began plowing ahead with planning ancillary health services for the remaining 47 acres, which could include a long-term care facility, a hospice or hotel, a community centre, a medical school and a pharmacy.
The resolution passed by council Monday commits to continuing that work under the direction of a new, restructured campus of care group.
The terms of the restructuring are not spelled out in the resolution.
The current executive of the campus of care group is made up of developer Michael DeGasperis, who is chairperson; vice-chairperson Lou Greenbaum; secretary Quinto Annibale and treasurer Robert Bradbury. In addition, well-known businessman Sam Ciccolini, Mr. Bevilacqua and West Woodbridge Councillor Tony Carella, among others, act as directors.
Mr. DeGasperis could not be reached for an interview, but stated in an e-mailed statement the organization is happy with the direction in which council is moving.
“We are extremely pleased to see that city council has reaffirmed the city’s support in developing a campus of care for the citizens of Vaughan and we look forward to working with the city and YCH (York Central Hospital) to move forward together, as partners, to achieve the realization of a hospital and a campus of care on the 87-acre site,” he wrote. “We are also pleased that council continues to recognize the important role the Vaughan Health Campus of Care plays in being responsible for the development of the site as well as the additional health services.”
The city will have to reach an agreement with York Central for the 40-acre parcel that has been earmarked for the future hospital.
There are a number of possible arrangements that could be worked out including a long-term lease.
Council also requested, in its resolution, that the Vaughan Health Care Foundation, of which Mr. Ciccolini is chairperson and Mr. DeGasperis a board member, “devote its fundraising activities exclusively for a new hospital in Vaughan.”
Currently, the foundation has a mandate to raise money for the hospital, the campus of care, Vaughan Community Health Centre, Vaughan Seniors Care Services and, potentially, a host of other health care services.
“As a city, and the citizens of Vaughan feel, a hospital is the most important goal that we’re trying to achieve,” Mr. Bevilacqua said.
Mr. Ciccolini could not be reached for comment by press time Wednesday.
Both the campus of care group and the foundation have come under fire from some councillors, city hall watchdogs and most recently, Vaughan MPP Greg Sorbara.
He sent a letter to the mayor nearly two weeks ago calling on the city to retain control of the land.
Mr. Sorbara also noted the need to change the governance structures at the campus of care and at the Vaughan Health Care Foundation and said the latter should focus solely on raising money for the hospital.
Mr. Sorbara called council’s resolution a “first step” and said time will tell if the issues will be addressed appropriately.
“The proof will be in the pudding,” he said. “That is to say, there needs to be a restructuring that creates accountability and transparency for all of those lands and there needs to be a restructuring of the foundation organization to link it directly to hospital construction and operation.
“Right now, I think, the city’s resolution puts us on that course but there’s a lot of work to do yet. I mean nothing has changed as of today, except an expression of the city’s intention to reshape those organizations.”
Although the resolution addresses many of the issues raised by Mr. Sorbara, Mr. Bevilacqua claimed the influential Liberal MPP’s letter had little to do with council’s move.
“These are issues that have been evolving for awhile now and I just felt it was necessary for us to move on it,” he said. “These issues were raised earlier in council as well but I felt it was important to formalize it and to make sure everybody understands that now it’s time to get the roles and responsibilities correct.”
Maple/Kleinburg Councillor Marilyn Iafrate, who began raising concerns about the campus of care group and the foundation back in January, was happy with the resolution.
“I was really pleased with the outcome,” she said. “I’m pleased overall that we can finally move forward and everybody’s in agreement that we need to re-evaluate the (land) agreement to better reflect the current state of affairs with the hospital and who is running it. And, just as importantly, ensuring that the city retains ownership and direction of its investment.”          

http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1042785--vaughan-votes-to-retain-hospital-lands                        

Seniors' Health: A balanced diet isn't enough in nursing homes

Changing the way food is offered in nursing homes could reduce high rates of malnutrition, according to a study of 38 facilities across the Maritimes.

"It's not the quality of the food that's at issue," says Gale West, a sociologist at Laval University in Quebec City who co-authored the study with two nutritionists. "On a given day on a given plate, residents will only eat what they like and leave what they don't like. So a lot of an otherwise balanced diet gets thrown out."

According to West, several studies in Canada and the United States have shown that between 39 and 60 per cent of nursing home residents suffer from malnutrition, in particular a shortage of protein.

In an effort to better understand the nursing home-malnutrition phenomenon, the researchers studied 132 residents, finding that 37 per cent were at risk of being malnourished. West says the most surprising finding was that popular prepackaged food items such as cheese, apple sauce, Jell-O and cookies proved difficult to open for many seniors.

"In high schools and hospitals, where most people are functional, (packaging) is not an issue," she says. "But for seniors in a home, with arthritis, or other motor or cognitive impairments, it poses problems."

She adds that, because meal times are a flurry of activity in most residences, staff members are not readily available to help. As a result, many seniors simply leave the prepackaged food unopened and uneaten on their trays.

The researchers also found that seniors' eating habits are affected by menu cycles, a system used by hospitals, schools and many long-term care facilities in which menus are repeated in three-, four- or six-week cycles.

"It seems that the longer the cycle is, the better residents eat, particularly if they're lucid," says West. "We think it has to do with variety. If they see the same foods too frequently, they simply get bored and eat less."

She says the nutritional health of nursing home residents could be improved with a few simple actions, such as partly opening prepackaged food items, customizing food services to suit seniors and increasing the length of menu cycles.

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/2688--seniors-health-a-balanced-diet-isn-t-enough-in-nursing-homes