Town of Essex Facilities Available as Cooling Centres

The Windsor-Essex County Health has issued a Heat Warning, residents and visitors to the Town of Essex are encouraged to use the following municipal facilities as cooling centres beginning on Monday, August 23. Centres will remain available as listed below for duration of Heat Warnings as provided by Windsor-Essex County Health Unit:

Colchester Harbour Community Room
100 Jackson St Colchester – 519-776-7336 extension 1056

Essex Centre Sports Complex
60 Fairview Avenue West, Essex Centre – 519-776-7336 extension 1301 (Saturday/Sunday 9:00a to 3:30p ONLY)

Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre
243 McAffee Street, Harrow – 519-776-7336 extension 1325 (Saturday/Sunday 9:00a to 3:30p ONLY)

Cooling centres provide an air-conditioned environment where people can go to cool down during a hot spell. When heat and humidity levels rise outside, the human body has to work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Just a few hours in an air-conditioned building can help bring down the body’s core temperature, making it easier to handle the heat.

Things You Can Do to Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

You should take extra precautions to protect yourself and loved ones from heat related health risks. Those at higher risk include seniors, infants and young children, people taking certain medications, and people with chronic conditions.
Some of the things you can do to beat the heat include the following:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Limit outdoor activities to the coolest part of the day.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors, including gardening and lawn maintenance.
• Protect your skin with broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher).
• Protect your eyes with sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses with UV-protective lenses.
• Never leave children, older adults or pets unattended in a car, even for a short period of time.
• Keep your home cool by closing window shades or drapes.

Find out more about how to avoid the adverse health effects from exposure to excessive heat on the health unit’s website (https://www.wechu.org/your-environment).

To locate cooling centres outside the Town of Essex, call 211 for available options.