The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

NEWS Police suspect arson in two fires SPORTS Midget Red Sox dump Brampton ARTS & ENTERTAINMEN Music students put to the test APPLE %1, AutoGLassWe VAuto Accessories EtM I IUpholstery Repairs I I WinsheId Repairs sai781 MAIN ST. #1 & 2, WMILTON 876-47851 A METROLAND COMMUN ITY NEWSPAPER VOL.146 NO.42 CrFRIDAY AUGUST 5,2005 $1 DO (GSTincluded) [on 36 PAGES "Using Communication to Build Better Communities" --Lots of heat alerts k~issued this summer '-What a relief Fouryeu'ol So»n " srbQ~ Omgss kMt * Rotey PukW swhmln pool flibs d tumon In -mfotf h" atetnd hav fia% of oiSe.& Phoo RAHAMPNE By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion The extremnely hot and humnid weather local residents have been suffering through lately has caused a sharp spike in the numn- ber of heat alerts the Region's health department has issued this sumrmer. So far tbis season, seven beat alerts bave been issued in Halton tbat bave spanned over 27 days wbile in 2004 tbere waa only une alert tbat lasted one day, said bealtb department environental bealtb specialist Burgess Hawkins. The longeat alert waa in effect from June 8 to June 14. 'Me increase tbis year can he attributed to different weatber patterns, said Mr. Hawkins, meaning tbere've been more extremely bot days. "I know we've bad a lot of bot southerly winds corne up," be noted. Wben Environent Canada issues a bumnidex advisory tbe bealtb departmnent then reissues a beat alert, meaning it eitber feels like it's 40 C or botter or tbere's going to be at least tbree consecutive days witb temperatures over 36 C. At press time yesterday, tbe alert waa still ini effect. Smog alerts double Witb tbe extreme beat often cornes smog, and Mr. Hawkins said tbere've been 12 smog alerta su far this year tbat've stretcbed over 39 days, wbile last year there were only six alerta tbat laated a total ut 14 days. 'Me Ministry of the Environment puta a smog alert into effeet - and tbe Region tben reissues tbe information - wben tbe alr qualîty is rated as pour on tbe alr quali- ty index. Mr. Hawkins said tbe increase this year is largely weatber related, explaining tbat tbe beat causes pollutants to react in the air and produce ground-level ozone, a componens ut smog. He noted about 50 per cent ut tbe air poî- lutants in Ontario corne up from tbe United States and the other hait corne from local causes like cars. While an alert rnay sound alarming to sorne peuple, Mr. Hawkins said they're issued to basically rernind residents to take care during tbe extrerne temperatures and also so shelters cari be prepared. The heat can be especially hazardous for seniors, infants, young children and those with chronic heart or lung disease and astb- ma. Sorne precautions local residents can take include: - Staying in tbe shade and luniting out- door activities to tbe mrning and evening. - Keeping the shades drawn and blinda closed. " Wearing a bat and sunscreen. " Drinking Iota of water and natural fruit juices. e Exercising indoors in an aircondi- tioned area. e Wearing loose-fittng clotbes that allow sweat to evaporate. Melanie Hennessey con be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.co M. Conunnt.......A6-A7 Batele..........Ail Classlfied......A29-A32 Real Estate..A34-A35 M .tUeM.*Uai .S.I.ct.d arast eny www.miltontoyota.com SUMMER ILOWOU.Tf HOTTES T PRICESn-* IN TOWN 2Locations: 24MAIN ST. E. J ~ Milton 878-0506 iotwMmILTON MALL Ç~~LI4~Lm OF mmA~lÇ, & p-pj