There's always potential for extended hot temperatures in the summer.
This year, the BC Heat Alert Response System (BC HARS) has been developed with representatives from all health authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the Ministry of Health, Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). BC HARS is a two-tiered response system that will trigger heat alerts, and coordinated provincial and regional action for heat warnings and heat emergencies.
Interior Health is working to ensure coordinated action that aligns with BC HARS and protects our communities from the impacts of extreme heat.
Tips to stay safe from the heat
But what can you do to ensure you and your family remain safe and healthy this summer? Here are a few basic things to remember:
- Stay informed - Download the WeatherCAN app to receive real time updates for upcoming heat alerts for your community directly to your phone. You can also choose to get updates for the communities where your friends and family live to keep them up-to-date too.
- Prepare your home
- Identify a cooler space in your home and prepare it so you can stay there at night, if possible.
- Find an air-conditioned spot close by where you can cool off on very hot days. Consider staying with friends or family, or find places in your community to spend time such as movie theatres, libraries, community centres, shopping malls or even shaded parks.
- Check that you have a working fan. If you have an air conditioner, make sure it works.
- Install awnings, shutters, blinds, or curtains over your windows to keep the sun out during the day.
- Practice opening doors and windows to move cool air in at night, and shutting windows during the day to prevent hot outdoor air from coming inside.
- Get a digital room thermometer to keep with you so you know when your home is getting too hot. Generally, indoor temperatures over 31 C are too hot!
- Take care of yourself - Make sure you take it easy during the hottest hours of the day, drink plenty of water, and spray your body with water if you are feeling too hot. You can also make sure you are familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
- Check in on others - Think of people who might be more susceptible to heat and develop a buddy system – check in with your hot weather buddy often, especially in the evenings when indoor temperatures are highest, and in the morning to see how they managed throughout the night.
Resources
For more information about who is more susceptible to heat-related illness and actions that you can take to protect yourself and others around you, check out:
Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide
Health Checks during Extreme Heat Events
You can also share our public information bulletin with friends and family - Refer to the full bulletin:
Read more in our Summer Safety series
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