Thursday August 12, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC [8 am Pacific]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Heat can affect everyone’s health but some people are more susceptible to severe heat-related illness and death.
Seniors and persons with chronic poor health are at greater risk and may not perceive that they are getting too hot. People with mobility challenges may also need extra help to take steps to keep cool.
Weather forecasts give you the heads up:
Weather forecasts for large events like heat waves are fairly reliable nowadays. You can plan ahead to be ready when the heat hits.
Environment Canada’s heat warning issued a few days ago defines the heat threat as resulting from a “significant heat wave” from Wednesday August 11 through to Sunday, easing up by Sunday afternoon August 15.
The Wednesday to Sunday period — with a peak on Thursday and Friday — includes daytime highs ranging from 29°C to now 37°C (previously 35°C) combined with overnight lows of 16°C to 19°C. Humidex values during this period will reach the mid to high 30s.
Tips for heat-wave planning:
The BC Centre for Disease Control offers these guidelines for preparing ahead of time, even if you have just two to three days in advance.
These tips outline what you can do for yourself in preparation at home (such as water supply, ventilation and finding the coolest place to sleep).
As well, watch for any further government advisories.
- Pay attention to the media, Environment Canada and your health authority for warnings of incoming heat. Use the British Columbia Heat Impacts Prediction System (BCHIPS) to get advance warning of when heat can be a health risk. Early summer hot spells are most dangerous because our bodies are unaccustomed to handling heat.
- Identify a cooler space in your home and prepare it so you can stay there at night. You may need to reconfigure daily living arrangements to deal with heat episodes.
- 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.
- Make ice and prepare jugs of cool water.
- Check that you have a working fan.
- Identify people who may be more susceptible to heat and develop a buddy system. Check in with your hot weather buddy frequently especially in the evening and early morning.
- Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness so you can identify problems early on. Headache, confusion, unsteadiness, loss of thirst, nausea/vomiting are signs of dangerous heat exhaustion.
===== RELATED:
Province to help fund local cooling centers during heat wave | Cooling center location in Langford (August 11, 2021)
Island Health: managing your health in August hot weather (August 10, 2021)
Greater Victoria weather alert: high temperatures July 27 to 31 (July 26, 2021)
Smoky air is a health hazard, but heat trumps that (July 24, 2021)
Summer health hazards: heat wave & wildfire smoke (July 3, 2021)
Hot weather: stay hydrated & protected from sun during the heat dome (June 25, 2021)
Summer delivers full week of hot weather (June 21, 2021)
