Expert view: 10 tips to beat the heat

July 26, 2020

Temperatures within the Interior tend to soar mid-summer, when residents and visitors enjoy fun in the sun.

However, too much heat can be harmful to your health. Overheating can lead to weakness, disorientation and exhaustion. In severe cases, it may lead to heat stroke (also known as sunstroke). And heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency.

“I know we’re all busy taking precautions to prevent COVID, but in addition we need to stay safe from the heat."
Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton.

Here are some tips to keep you safe and healthy this summer.

10 Steps to avoid heat related illness

Plan your outdoor activity before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m., to avoid the most intense sun.
Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Water is the best choice.
Avoid physical work or exercise outside in the heat of the day.
If you must work or exercise outside, drink two to four glasses of water each hour, even before you feel thirsty.
Rest breaks are important and should be taken in the shade.
Apply sunscreen to prevent sun burn, but remember this doesn’t protect from the heat.
Stay in the shade, or create your own shade with lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing, a wide brimmed hat, and/or an umbrella.
If you’re struggling to keep cool, move indoors to an air-conditioned building or take a cool bath or shower. At temperatures above 30° C (86°F), fans alone may not be able to prevent heat-related illness.
Never leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Temperatures can rise to 52° C (125° F) within 20minutes inside a vehicle when the outside temperature is 34° C (93° F). Leaving the car windows slightly open will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature.
Regularly check older adults, infants and children, those doing a lot of physical activity or working outside, and people with chronic disease or mental illness for signs of heat-related illness. Make sure they are keeping cool and drinking plenty of fluids. Check on those who are unable to leave their homes, and people whose judgment may be impaired.

https://youtu.be/4sVYjq86hXA

The symptoms of heat-related illness can range from mild to severe. They include:

pale, cool, moist skin (early stages); or red, hot, dry skin (in the late stages of heat stroke);
heavy sweating;
muscle cramps;
rash;
swelling, especially hands and feet;
fatigue and weakness;
dizziness and/or fainting;
headache;
nausea and/or vomiting;
fever, particularly a core body temperature of 40° C (104° F) or more;
confusion and decreased mental alertness;
hallucinations;
seizures; and
unconsciousness/coma

When recognized early, most mild heat-related illnesses can be treated at home. Home treatment for mild heat exhaustion may include:

moving to a cooler environment;
drinking plenty of cool, non-alcoholic fluids;
resting;
taking a cool shower or bath; and
wearing lightweight clothing

If your symptoms last longer than one hour, change, worsen or cause you concern, contact a health-care provider.

Resources

For more information on heat-related illness, visit the HealthLinkBC website or dial 811.

For local governments: Heat Alert Response System

If anything, as a gay man, it's taught me that the only way you're going to be heard is standing up for yourself and being the voice of those that often go unheard; we need to fight for equal rights and access for all of those minorities that have traditionally not been addressed, supported or represented.

-- Dr. Dwight Ferris

“It has been a struggle over the years. You see and witness how things have slowly progressed and improved over time, but seeing how those who were vocal for minorities in past generations, gives me inspiration that things can change for the better if you stand up and speak out.”

Two men take a selfie with a small waterfall and trees in the background. — Dr. Dwight Ferris and his partner Martin Russell enjoying nature in B.C. - he says get out there and enjoy green space for better health!

Outside of work, you will find Dwight where he is the happiest: going for walks through the woods or parks. As he says, green space is healthy space and environmental stewardship and climate protection are essential for a healthy world. Before nursing, he had a background in agriculture, environmental studies and entomology (study of insects), so while outdoors he will stop and look under a leaf or stone and see what kind of insects, flora and fauna are there, take a deep breath and be glad for the privilege of being one with his environment.

Moving forward, Dwight is excited to continue supporting and enabling the patient voice throughout the health-care system, and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in an environmentally friendly and sustainable world.

“EDI is very close to my heart,” Dwight says. “I put my little rainbow flag outside my office door; it is a small symbol of joy that follows a storm, the light refracted into a prism of all colours, representative and inclusive to all, announcing there is a supportive person here for the often-invisible 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The clients and public realize when they see that rainbow flag that there are clinicians and people here who recognize, acknowledge and support them.”