B.C. heatwave: Province issues safety reminders

Although we aren’t expecting heat-dome-like temperatures this weekend, the deadly event that took place in the summer of 2021 was a wake-up call for many British Columbians.

Emergency experts say the risks our most vulnerable people face in the heat are too great to ignore.

Sarah Henderson, the scientific director of Environmental Health Services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), says it’s critical people understand the potential dangers of extreme heat.

“Extreme heat is another type of emergency that we need to consider planning and preparing for,” she said, noting how we prepare for floods or wildfires.

Henderson says emergencies like the heat dome were unprecedented and prove that heat events can be deadly.

Noting it takes time for people to get acclimatized to hot weather each season, she says being prepared can make a critical difference.

“The outcomes for those individuals and families are better than those who have not done the planning and preparedness.”

Seniors and those living alone are among the most vulnerable people to extreme heat. Officials are urging British Columbians to check in on their loved ones, friends, and neighbours who are most susceptible to higher temperatures to ensure they’re okay.

They are also reminding people to stay hydrated and find cooler places to find relief from the heat, and to know the signs of overheating.

They include “feeling severely unwell, a headache, dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, and extreme thirst.”

Related articles:

• Overnight lows won’t drop much during B.C.’s mini heatwave

• Metro Vancouver to get ‘unseasonably hot’ this weekend: Environment Canada

Environment and Climate Change Canada says daytime highs are expected to reach “into the high 20s to low 30s” in the coming days — which is about 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal values.

Sunday and Monday are expected to be the hottest days in the short term.

In addition to higher daytime temperatures, overnight lows aren’t expected to cool very much, remaining in the low-to-mid teens. This is adding to concerns since overnight is when, typically, your body regulates itself from dealing with the heat all day.

With files from Sonia Aslam