City’s Response to Heat Alert issued for Middlesex-London
The City is taking the extreme heat alert very seriously
· Dearness Home has been placed on CODE RED alert for the remainder of the week – extra vigilance for residents venturing outside; extra hydration
· Encouraging minor sports organizations to evaluate programming, but at least ensure extra breaks for player hydration
Heat Alert pre-cautions at Playgrounds and Camps
City program locations follow MLHU “tips to avoid heat related illnesses” (see Heat Alert advisory)
In addition to these tips and pre-cautions:
· Off site excursions are cancelled (except for those to swimming pools or spray pads or with air-conditioned destinations)
· Trips normally taken by foot, use bus transportation instead.
· Sites without air conditioning will be using fans if necessary
· Staff monitor children for adequate use of sunscreen and wearing of hats
· Physical activities (particularly outdoor) are limited in duration and location (e.g. shade)
· Major events (involving more than one site) focused on physical activity are cancelled or postponed (e.g. Timpany Tournament – major annual soccer tournament – is postponed from July 20 to July 27)
· Lots of water breaks throughout the day to maintain hydration
Special arrangements for Thursday, July 21
Temperatures expected to spike to above 36 degrees centigrade with humidex of over 45.
· We will becancelling all free playground sites on Thursday
Communicated by:
· Verbal messages to families starting today
· Signage at playground sites
· Notices sent home to parents
· Notice on city website
Staff will be on site at playgrounds for first 45 minutes of program on Thursday to ensure no child is dropped off at site and stranded there.
· All day camps will continue to run as normal on Thursday, implementing the usual heat alert precautions.
(We run camps given that many families also rely on these programs for child minding services.)
We continue to monitor the situation day by day.
· All outdoor tennis lessons will be cancelled
City facilities available as cooling centres and/or have cooling components to programming
Libraries
London Public Library locations are deemed cooling stations and the public is welcome to cool off in any of the branches. Please call 519-661-4600 or check the website,
Outdoor pools are open for recreational swimming Monday - Sunday 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Evenings Monday - Friday 6-8 p.m. Thames Pool - Saturday 6-8 p.m. Indoor pools also open for recreational swimming Visit www.london.ca/aquatics to learn more about spray pads and wading pools
