THUNDER BAY – Keeping cool in the heat is a lot easier in Thunder Bay for many people than in many other cities in Canada. First off, locals have access to Lake Superior. The big lake is often the source of cooling breezes. On Saturday where large numbers of people gathered at Boulevard Lake, by early afternoon, the cooling breeze off Lake Superior made the hot sun very enjoyable.
For those more adventurous, swimming in Lake Superior is a sure way to keep cool.
Across the city the splash pads were busy. The newest addition to the city’s splash pads in Current River offers lots of opportunity for families to cool off and enjoy the summer.
While today is not forecast to be quite as hot in Thunder Bay, the mercury is still forecast to hit near 27.
When the temperature climbs, it is also a great idea to fire up the barbecue rather than the stove. That is if the heat doesn’t take most of your appetite away.
Remember even when it is hot you still need to eat.
Keep Hydrated
There are lots of options to keep cool. Keeping properly hydrated is critical in hot weather. In the hot summer sun the body works extra hard to maintain its temperature. Sweating helps keep you cool, and also uses up a lot of water. While it might be tempting to have soda drinks, alcoholic beverages, and coffee, the reality is those beverages actually dehydrate you.
Water is best. Depending on what you are doing, the amount of water you drink has to go up dramatically.
The usual eight to ten glasses of water isn’t going to be enough on really hot days – especially if you are doing anything strenuous.
There are also lots of things you can do to keep cool. Putting a damp cloth on your forehead can help especially if there is a breeze, as evaporation will really help cool you off.
Be especially cautious with young children – especially infants. They have a greater surface area relative to overall body size and can heat up especially quick.
Your vehicle can also be a real hot box. A few minutes sitting in the hot sun, and a car or truck becomes a sweat box. Your children or your pets left unattended in a car or truck can suffer heat stroke in a very short amount of time.
If nothing else, try tuning into National Geographic channel on your television set. Over the weekend they were playing a marathon of “Life Below Zero”. Keep in mind that in four or five short months, instead of heat it will be that Canadian favourite – “Cold Enough for You” that will be playing over and over again.
