Don’t play games with the heat
Cases of heat exhaustion, heat stroke higher than normal
St. John Ambulance is warning Hatters with temperatures expected to reach 35 C today to take extra precautions to prepare for the heat while attending the Stampede.
First aid personnel are already dealing with more instances of heat exhaustion and heat stroke than they have seen in a long time during Stampede week, says St. John Ambulance community service co-ordinator Georgina Greenstein.
“We have seen much higher instances of heat exhaustion this year,” she confirms. “This is the worst I have seen that way in a lot of years. The No. 1 thing we are encouraging is for people to make sure they have eaten before they come out here. That they drink lots of water while they are out here, and have something on their heads. We also say try to stay in the shaded areas where they can, and if they are in distress to come to us for assistance. We are here to help.”
And it’s not just outside on the midway where people have been dropping from heat exhaustion, says Greenstein, it’s also inside some of the packed venues on the Stampede grounds.
She says staying hydrated and staying cool are no joking matter when you are dealing with such high temperatures.
“We would say if you are coming out to Stampede have fun, but be prepared for the heat. Having a proper hat is a big thing, but it is also so important people eat and have breakfast before coming down to the fair.”