Heat wave, but no public air conditioning
We’re expecting a heat wave period of hot weather to begin Tuesday and end sometime Friday with rain, but the usual public air conditioned spaces are not available as refuges.
Many CHSLDs have no air conditioning either – part of the general neglect of old people we’re having to face. This item also notes that the heat will be rough on staff wearing full PPE all the time now too.
mare 11:20 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
Water playgrounds in parks are also closed, as are pools. And malls with food courts, perfect places for older people to get some respite from the heat. And cinemas, my go-to cool place 🙁
Ideally the drinking fountains and taps in parks should be turned on, it would cut down on the enormous amount of waste when people can fill their water bottles. The drinking spouts on top can be disabled.
Add a container of soap (or a big soap bar attached to a rope, I remember those from when I was young, but maybe a European thing) and frequent hand washing while being out in public becomes possible, adding to everyone’s safety. Okay, the soap might get destroyed quickly, but we can try.
most of the garbage cans in our park Père Marquette) are surrounded by garbage, the city obviously lacks the manpower to empty them often enough. I really don’t get people who put their takeout garbage—cups, plates, bottles, etcetera—on top of the overflowing garbage can, do a little press for show, watch it roll down on the ground, and then just shrug and walk away.
WTF? You brought it with you, maybe you can just take it home again?
[insert old man waving stick at clouds gif]
EmilyG 11:25 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
With the lack of ways to cool down, I wonder if I could pour water from a watering can out into the ruelle from my balcony onto people below.
(Dunno, maybe the heat is getting to my brain and I’m having weird ideas.)
Chris 11:26 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
And of course now you can’t even use a reusable mug if you wanted to, every place now refuses them. So those garbage piles will grow more.
And air conditioner sales will go up, thus hastening the vicious circle of more energy consumption.
walkerp 11:31 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
With you mare 100%
dwgs 11:32 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
Just returned from a long dog walk where we crossed 4 municipalities and a federal park, not one functional fountain anywhere. Many thanks to the kind lady watering her garden who was happy to soak my dogs with her hose and let them have a drink.
Jonathan 16:05 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
I don’t mean to sound pedantic, but it’s not a heat wave but a period of hot weather. When the nights drop down into the 20s, it does allow for a respite of cooler weather that helps calm the effects of 30+ degree days.
It’s makes a difference in terms of the public health response.
Kate 17:55 on 2020-05-26 Permalink
Fixed above, but I observe in my defense that Radio-Canada calls it a vague de chaleur.
Mark Côté 00:32 on 2020-05-27 Permalink
Even during the heat wave of 2018 the night temperatures were in the 20s, with the highest being 24.2 degrees. As far as I can tell overnight temperatures of 30+ degrees are basically unheard of here, so far anyway.
Environment Canada defines a heat wave as “three or more consecutive days when the maximum temperature is 32°C or more.” It peaked at 33 today so if this isn’t going to be officially a heat wave it’s going to be damned close.