New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre.   Emergency services will be unavailable immediately until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp during this time. Emergency services are expected to resume as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week. 

People throughout the Interior are reminded to stay safe from the impacts of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke in the region. The Province of British Columbia has issued air quality warnings for multiple areas across Interior Health.  Those with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, infants and young children are most affected by wildfire smoke.   The best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air.  Learn more about health in smoky conditions with Deputy Chief, Medical Health Officer, Dr. Sue Pollock.   During smoky conditions:  Stay indoors: Reduce time spent outside to protect your health.  Consider wearing a well-fitted respirator if you cannot access cleaner air: Use a well fitted respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) to reduce exposure to particulate matter in smoke.  Activate medical management plans: Ensure your plan to self-manage any chronic diseases (e.g., respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) is in place and up-to-date, and that adequate rescue medications are available.  Use a home clean air shelter: Spend time in a room in your home with a portable air cleaner with HEPA filtration to reduce smoke exposure. If you do not have access to this at home, you can find a location in your local community to take shelter in such as your community recreation centre or public library during periods of poor air quality.   Wildfire smoke and your mental health  Smoky skies can affect us physically and also make us feel anxious and stressed. There are actions we can take to help improve and manage our mental wellness through these stressful times.  Manage stress: Use stress-relief techniques such as meditation or focusing on a creative outlet (e.g., journaling and art).  Tap into social networks: Having conversations and spending time with people closest to us is especially important during emergencies and disasters.  Take care: Eat well, exercise indoors, drink lots of water and get enough sleep.  Help others: Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and community as we confront challenges together. The Emergency Support Services Program welcomes and relies on volunteers to coordinate support services for people forced from their homes in an emergency.  Resources  Visit the BCCDC wildfire smoke webpage to learn more about the health effects of wildfire smoke, how to prepare for wildfire season and more.  For guidance on outdoor physical activity in smoky conditions, refer to the Air Quality Health Index or the University of Northern British Columbia’s local monitoring resource.    For other steps to create cleaner air space at home, check out Health Canada’s online resource Guidance for Cleaner Air Spaces during Wildfire Smoke Events.  To learn about the steps that you can take to prepare for a wildfire and manage wildfire-related issues before, during or after a wildfire please visit our wildfires webpage.  Call 8-1-1 or your primary care provider if you're experiencing more severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, or 9-1-1 if it's a health emergency. 

New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre.   Emergency services will be unavailable now until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp during this time. Emergency services are expected to resume as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an updated heat warning for the Boundary, South and North Thompson and Fraser Canyon areas in the Interior Health and Fraser Health regions from Sept. 2 to Sept. 5, 2025. View the map of the heat warning area here. With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat-related illness increases.  Everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, but hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for seniors (ages 65 years or older); infants and young children; pregnant people; people with chronic health conditions and mental illnesses; people who work outdoors; and people who live alone or are socially isolated, homeless, or unsheltered. More details about extreme heat, including symptoms of heat-related illness and those most at risk, are available on the IH's Extreme Heat page and IH YouTube channel. When to call 9-1-1: In cases of heat stroke: severe headache, loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting or very dark urine or no urine. In general, regardless of hot weather: when there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, signs of a stroke, signs of an overdose or a major trauma. If you have a less urgent health concern: You can call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1 and speak with a nurse or go to an urgent care centre or clinic if you can do so safely. That way, our emergency medical dispatch staff and paramedics will be available for people who need their services the most. There are also online tools at healthlinkbc.ca, including a “Check Your Symptoms” tool. In the Fraser Health region, call Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 to speak with a registered nurse from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven-days-a-week.  Steps to protect yourself, and those around you from heat-related illness: Keep your home cool by: Opening windows when the outdoor temperature goes down below the indoor temperature at night and if the air quality is safe Shut windows and close curtains/blinds to keep cooler air in and the sun out Avoid making meals using the oven For those who qualify, free portable air conditioners are available through FortisBC and BC Hydro.  Important: If you are experiencing extreme heat during an air quality advisory, prioritize cooling down. Heat is typically more dangerous than short-term exposure to poor air quality. Keep your body cool by: Wearing a damp towel or shirt Taking a cool bath or shower Putting an ice tray in front of a fan Using a personal mister or spray bottle Drinking lots or water Lowering your activity level and avoiding intense activities Important: While fans can help you feel more comfortable, they do not work to lower body temperature at temperatures over 35C. Do your best to take care of high-risk individuals by: Visiting them to check the indoor temperature of their home Encouraging them to take cool baths and sleep in their coolest room, such as the basement Invite them to your house if you have air conditioning Never leave children, dependent adults or pets alone in a parked car. Leaving windows open will not help. Back to school safety Children are not always able to recognize how heat events can affect them: Ensure they stay hydrated with plenty of water. Apply sunscreen throughout the day; wear hats, sunglasses, and light weight clothing in breathable materials. Avoid being outside at the hottest parts of the day (approximately 3 p.m.) Seek shade, air-conditioned spaces such as community centres or libraries, splash pads, water parks or pools. Resources: Watch: Keeping Kids Cool Watch: Heat Inside the home School Safety  Keep up to date on weather alerts and information: Download the WeatherCAN app Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) live map  The BC Centre for Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.   More information can also be found in B.C.’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide and fraserhealth.ca/sunsafety.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.   Emergency services will be unavailable from 1 p.m. on Sept. 1 to 7 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2025. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital in Penticton during this time.   All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.   People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.     Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28 to 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. Patients can access emergency care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or 100 Mile House District General Hospital during this time. All other inpatient services will continue at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a heat warning for the Fraser Canyon and South Thompson areas in the Interior Health and Fraser Health regions from August 25 to August 28, 2025. View the map of the heat warning area here.  The province has not declared an extreme heat emergency for this region. With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat-related illness increases.  Everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, but hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for seniors (ages 65 years or older); infants and young children; pregnant people; people with chronic health conditions and mental illnesses; people who work outdoors; and people who live alone or are socially isolated, homeless, or unsheltered. More details about extreme heat, including symptoms of heat-related illness and those most at risk, are available on the IH's Extreme Heat page and IH YouTube channel. When to call 9-1-1: In cases of heat stroke: severe headache, loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting or very dark urine or no urine. In general: when there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, signs of a stroke, signs of an overdose or a major trauma. If you have a less urgent health concern: You can call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1 and speak with a nurse or go to an urgent care centre or clinic if you can do so safely. That way, our emergency medical dispatch staff and paramedics will be available for people who need their services the most. There are also online tools at healthlinkbc.ca, including a “Check Your Symptoms” tool. In the Fraser Health region, call Fraser Health Virtual Care at 1-800-314-0999 to speak with a registered nurse from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven-days-a-week.  Steps to protect yourself, and those around you from heat-related illness: Keep your home cool by: Opening windows when the outdoor temperature goes down below the indoor temperature at night and if the air quality is safe Shut windows and close curtains/blinds to keep cooler air in and the sun out Avoid making meals using the oven For those who qualify, free portable air conditioners are available through FortisBC and BC Hydro.  Important: If you are experiencing extreme heat during an air quality advisory, prioritize cooling down. Heat is typically more dangerous than short-term exposure to poor air quality. Keep your body cool by: Wearing a damp towel or shirt Taking a cool bath or shower Putting an ice tray in front of a fan Using a personal mister or spray bottle Drinking lots or water Lowering your activity level and avoiding intense activities Important: While fans can help you feel more comfortable, they do not work to lower body temperature at temperatures over 35C. Do your best to take care of high-risk individuals by: Visiting them to check the indoor temperature of their home Encouraging them to take cool baths and sleep in their coolest room, such as the basement Invite them to your house if you have air conditioning Never leave children, dependent adults or pets alone in a parked car. Leaving windows open will not help. Keep up to date on weather alerts and information: Download the WeatherCAN app Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) live map  The BC Centre for Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.   More information can also be found in B.C.’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide and fraserhealth.ca/sunsafety.