B.C. health officials, experts urging people be vigilant amid upcoming heatwave

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — B.C. has issued a series of urgent health reminders as the province braces for another round of heat.

The extreme heat is expected to last from Wednesday through Saturday, but we could see temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s starting on Thursday.

B.C.’s Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, warns the temperatures can have “devastating and deadly consequences.”

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said, “British Columbians should be vigilant, watch for warnings and take steps to stay safe during extreme heat. Follow health advice and call for emergency help if you need it.”

Health officials are urging British Columbians to take care of themselves by preparing in advance.

“It is important to be aware of and follow the health guidelines provided to keep your body cool while temperatures outside rise,” Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said.

“This includes limiting physical activity outdoors, finding a cool, air-conditioned place and keeping hydrated, and taking extra care to check in with people most at risk, including infants and young children and older people.”

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Family physician Yvette Lu tells NEWS 1130, whenever it gets this hot, be sure to take it easy and watch for signs of trouble.

“The most important thing to remember is that heat illness is preventable. Heat illness happens when your body warms up faster than it can cool itself down. And if it warms up to a critical temperature it can become very dangerous,” she explains.

“Some of the signs of heat illness include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, fainting, headache, your skin can become pale and moist, you can sweat really heavily, you can develop a rash, or feel nauseous, or throw up.

“As it gets more serious, you can develop muscle cramps and swelling of the hands and feet, and even a fever, or racing heart confusion, hallucinations and it becomes heatstroke then you can even develop seizures in a coma and at that point is a medical emergency.

“You really want to catch heat illness when it’s mild and even better, you want to prevent it completely.”

So stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, take breaks if you work outside, cover up with a hat or light-coloured long sleeve and loose-fitting clothing and try your best to stay out of the sun.

Most importantly, Lu says monitor vulnerable people for signs of heat illness “because they may not notice that they’re overheating.”

The most vulnerable – young children, pregnant people, seniors and people with chronic illnesses – are told to prepare and watch for any signs of distress like swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

During last month’s heatwave, there were 815 sudden deaths reported across the province between June 25 and July 1, a four-time increase over the average for that time period of 198. Heat is believed to be a factor in many of the deaths.

B.C.’s chief coroner says hundreds of deaths — mostly among seniors — were linked to the last heatwave.

Special weather statements are in effect across much of southern B.C., including parts of Vancouver Island — as another heatwave is set to arrive.

Environment Canada says temperatures won’t be as extreme as the sweltering conditions that baked most of the province around Canada Day, but it says heat in the mid to high 30s is likely — and there won’t be much cooling overnight.

The highest temperatures expected in the Thompson-Okanagan, Kootenay and Fraser Canyon regions.