With temperatures of 30 plus degrees expected throughout much of the province over the next few days, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings from the Wood Buffalo region in the north all the way down to the Montana border.  

With staying cool on many people's minds, Alberta Health Services has some advice on how to keep yourself, and vulnerable sections of the population, from falling victim to the heat.

Naomi Nania, Public Information Officer with EMS says the best defense against heat related illnesses is common sense.  "We're really encouraging people to stay hydrated, making sure they're drinking plenty of fluids and watching out for the vulnerable population, the elderly and the children.  Making sure that they're in the shade when they can, wearing a broad hat is a really good idea, cowboy hats are obviously great, and making sure you're putting that sunscreen on, not just once, but reapplying it during the day."

Nania says although many people refer to the possibility of heat stroke, they're more concerned about people suffering heat exhaustion.  "That's where you get the headache, weakness, nausea, chills, that sweaty, grey looking kind of skin tone that you might see and those are the people we really want to make sure we're dealing with.   If we're dealing with someone with heat stroke that's something that could be fatal and that's actually where you stop sweating, so there's no more perspiration.  That's something that we have to dramatically get their body temperature down."

Heat exhaustion happens well before heat stroke according to Nania.  "Heat exhaustion can occur due to excess fluid loss, a kind of prolonged sweating usually when it's hot and humid out.  Heat stroke is a medical emergency that your body can't cool itself anymore and they're not able to perspire and that's when the body temperature rises to dangerous levels."

Not just being outside during the heat can prove dangerous, so can being inside your non-air conditioned house for too long says Nania.  "Sometimes your house can get up to 26, 27 degrees inside so we're encouraging people, if you are inside and you don't have air conditioning to go to places that do.  Go to coffee shops.  I know on the Stampede grounds there are tons of places with air conditioning so it's a good excuse to go down to the grounds as well."

The good news, or bad news, depending on how you feel about the heat, is the hot temperatures are only supposed to last in Airdrie until Sunday.  On Monday the forecast calls for showers and a high of just 19 degrees.

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com