Our Families

At home & on the job, keeping our kids, grandparents & Fido healthy

Jump to Resources

Heatstroke (core body temperature greater than 40 degrees Celsius) is a risk for everyone, but children, pets, elderly, athletes and outdoor workers are most vulnerable. Called the silent killer, heat stroke is caused by a rapid increase in body temperature and inability to cool down by sweating. Evaporating sweat from our skin cools the body, but if humidity is high, sweat cannot evaporate. Wet Bulb Calculator (omnicalculator.com)

Our bodies try to cool down in situations of prolonged heat by pumping more blood to the skin surface. This deprives our core organs of blood and increases heart rate. People with heart conditions suffer faster. Dehydration from heat-induced sweating can happen in as little as half an hour and can cause kidney failure.

Exercising and doing physical labour in the heat raises the body temperature fast, and it is critical to find ways to cool down quickly. When the ability to sweat fails, it can take just ten minutes for internal body temperatures to exceed 40 C. Heat illness is the third leading cause of death in teenage athletes (behind accidents and heart causes).

There is no safe temperature or length of time a child is safe left in a car unattended. Even with an outside temperature of only 15 degrees Celsius, your car can heat to well above 37.7 C.  A car can heat up more than 11 degrees Celsius in ten minutes. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s and young children don’t have the same ability to produce sweat to cool off.

Outdoor workers must be given frequent shade breaks, hydration, and instruction about signs of heat exhaustion, and should be exempt from doing hard physical labour between 11 am and 3 pm. On April 22, 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) released this document, with estimates that over 2.4 billion workers (more than 70% of the global workforce) will endure excessive heat on the job.

Of the 12,000 annual heat-related deaths in the US, more than 80% are over 60 years (Climate Central). As Earth heats, these fatalities are expected to increase. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer, which can be particularly dangerous for older adults who may be less able to recognize when it’s too hot or if they’re dehydrated. Older adults also have reduced circulation systems and sweat less.

Pets must be provided with a way to stay cool. Older pets and dark-haired animals heat up faster, and cool down with more difficulty. Hairless dogs are at risk of sunburn.

Never leave a dog in a hot car.

Globally, heat related deaths are anticipated to increase 370 per cent by 2050.

Hours of lost labour is expected to reach 50% globally.

Tips for protecting you and your family from heat-related risks

General

Home

Work

Children

Pets

Seniors