Are you ready for the heat? Dr. Henry gives us some tips

The provincial government is warning British Columbians ahead of a sustained period of widespread excessive heat in the coming days.

Starting late this weekend increased temperatures will move eastward from the Lower Mainland with the Okanagan expecting to feel the brunt of it by midweek. The local forecast is for temperatures to reach as high as 36C by later next week.

Officials said while it will not be as bad as the heat dome of June/July 2021 - because August nights are longer and cooler - the consequences of heat stroke can be deadly. Almost 600 people died in the extraordinarily hot two months of the summer of 2021, with 231 of those deaths coming on one day, June 29. It reached over 42 C in Kelowna.

"It is critical that people understand the risks,” Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma said during a media briefing Thursday. She said a heat event like this requires residents to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

“Consider keeping a digital thermometer to accurately measure indoor temperatures. Indoor temperatures of 31C or higher can be dangerous, especially for people who are more vulnerable to heat,” she said.

Ma added everyone should be aware of locations outside their home where they can go to get relief from the heat such as a designated cooling centre, community centre, shopping mall, or arena.

BC’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide can be found here.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the heat warning was being issued provincewide because the heat will likely be the first prolonged intense heat of the summer for many parts.

“There’s an accumulation of heat that can lead to heat-related illness. It’s important to pay attention to this,” Henry explained.

“We see people [dying] every year from heat and often it’s because we underestimate the impacts that heat can have on our bodies until it’s too late.”

She said people need to stay in the coolest room in their house, keep the blinds down and windows closed during the day, stay hydrated and use a wet face cloth to cool down and change exercise routines to a cooler time of day.

“Those are the things we can do to make sure we don’t get to the stage of heat exhaustion or heat stroke that can be lethal,” she said.