Echodale swim lake was packed with people trying to cool down this weekend / Photo: CHAT News Today

By Meghan Cobb

Hatters find relief from long weekend heat in the water

Aug 1, 2022 | 4:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A heat warning has blanketed much of southern Alberta this Heritage Day weekend forcing Hatters to find ways to enjoy the holiday that included cooling down.

Amber McArby and her daughter Miaya Boucher have been taking advantage of the outdoor swimming areas in town to find some relief from the hot temperatures.

“We’ve been hitting up the free family swims at the pools,” said McArby when asked how they are spending the long weekend. “We were at Redcliff yesterday, water parks, and here at Echodale.”

Boucher enjoyed being able to swim and do summersaults in the water, and building sandcastles on the beach. She says anything water related is her go-to activity in the summer.

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“Drink lots of water, play in the sprinkler, and just do water all summer,” explained Boucher.

“As long as you’re near any kind of water, you seem to be a little bit cooler than what it actually is outside,” McArby said.

The pair were not alone in visiting Echodale over the weekend. The swim lake reopened on Saturday after the storm on July 18, and the lake was packed with families trying to cool down.

“We’ve noticed a lot of young families coming out,” said Kara Robinson, a lifeguard at the swim lake. “Being in the water, bringing snacks, planning to be here for the day.”

Robinson hopes people in Medicine Hat continue to visit Echodale to cool down, saying it’s fun to see people enjoy the water and beach.

“We’re hoping more people do get out to enjoy the last little bit of summer,” Robinson said.

While water is a good option to cool body temperatures, people can still be at risk for heat related injury if they don’t get out of the sun. Dr. Vivien Suttorp is a Medical Officer of Health with AHS in the South Zone, and says it is important to remember there are multiple factors that can lead to heat stress.

“One is the temperature outside, just the heat,” explains Dr. Suttorp. “The second is the humidity, and the third is UV radiation.”

Due to the lack of humidity in southern Alberta, most people in this area of the province has a harder time to maintain body temperature in high humidity through sweating.

Dr. Suttorp also stresses the need for proper sunscreen use, reminding people to apply their sunblock 20 minutes before going out in the sun and covering exposed skin.

“Wearing a wide brimmed hat and eye protection,” says Dr. Suttorp. “Your eyes are very sensitive to UVA and UVB rays.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps and excessive sweating. Anyone experiencing those symptoms should get out of the sun immediately.

“It’s very important to identify symptoms early and get out of the sun,” says Dr. Suttorp. “Take off their layers of clothes or shoes, put cold blankets or towels on them and try to hydrate.”