2023 Presentations

March 9, 2023

Presented by Kelli King, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Ottawa

Ottawa experiences a vast range in temperature fluctuations throughout the year which, if proper measures are not taken, can be dangerous for water sports. With an average high of 27°C with 65% relative humidity during the summer and an average low of -15°C during the winter, there is a year-round risk for hyperthermia (a rise in body temperature) or hypothermia (a decrease in body temperature). In this seminar, we will review the environmental considerations when kayaking and canoeing. This will include a detailed review of the physiological responses during cold and heat exposure (from the whole body to tissue level), preventative measures to avoid cold or heat injuries, as well as what to do during emergency situations (e.g., to swim or not to swim if stranded in cold water, addressing hypothermia and hyperthermia).   Kelli is a 4th year doctoral candidate in human physiology at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Dr. Glen Kenny. Her research specializes in the environmental impact on humans (including heat, cold, and altitude) from the cellular to whole body level with an emphasis in populations considered to be vulnerable to environmental extremes. Kelli’s doctoral thesis is examining the cellular protection mechanisms of autophagy and cold shock proteins in young and older adults in response to acute and repeated exposures to cold water immersion.

January 26, 2023

Presented by Emily Tetzlaff, Ph.D. Candidate, and Dr. Glen Kenny, Professor, University of Ottawa

In late June-early July 2021, the deadliest weather event in Canadian history occurred – claiming the lives of 619 British Columbians and 66 Albertans. As the Heat Dome evolved over two weeks, over 1,000 daily maximum temperature records were achieved, including over 100 records between 40-50°C. Millions of Canadians from the Canada-US border to the Arctic Circle were affected by the Heat Dome, and thus it is critical to study, reflect and apply the lessons learned from this event. The team at HEPRU have been working in partnership with Health Canada over the past year to conduct a series of analysis on everything from how the media communicated the Heat Dome through news articles and images, how the heat event intersected with other public crises (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic and the Opioid Overdose Crises), and the broader implications to infrastructure, social systems, the environment, and occupational health. The project series lead Emily Tetzlaff (Ph.D. Candidate) and Dr. Glen Kenny (HEPRU Director) will share some of their findings and how this work informs policy and action within the Canadian heat-health preparedness network.