Whenever a heat warning or extended heat warning is issued, the health unit will be informing residents through the media, social media and community partners, including 211 Windsor-Essex. Heat events can lead to heat illness, which often start with heat edema, heat rash, and heat cramps. Between 1979 and 2003, excessive heat killed more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined, according to the health unit. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit laid out its new "harmonized heat warning information system," its criteria for issuing heat warnings and its notification protocol at a news conference Friday. The Health Unit's website is updated daily with the current warning status.

Source: CBC News May 27, 2016 17:22 UTC