Island Health Heat Warning Steerage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

 

East and Inland Vancouver Island – Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued heat warnings for multiple areas within the Island Health area from August 10 to August 12, 2025.

Areas impacted embody East Vancouver Island from Duncan to Campbell River and Inland Vancouver Island.

The province has not declared an excessive warmth emergency for these areas.

With elevated temperatures, the danger of heat-related sickness will increase. Everyone is vulnerable to heat-related sickness, however scorching temperatures might be particularly harmful for seniors (ages 65 years or older); infants and younger kids; pregnant folks; folks with power well being situations and psychological diseases; individuals who work outdoor; and individuals who dwell alone or are socially remoted, homeless, or unsheltered.

More particulars about excessive warmth, together with signs of heat-related sickness and people most in danger, can be found on the Island Health public web site.

When to name 911:

•    In circumstances of warmth stroke: lack of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, extreme nausea or vomiting or very darkish urine or no urine.
•    In basic: when there may be chest ache, problem respiratory, lack of consciousness, extreme burns, choking, convulsions that aren’t stopping, a drowning, a extreme allergic response, a head damage, indicators of a stroke, indicators of an overdose or a serious trauma.

If you could have a much less pressing well being concern:

•    You can name HealthLinkBC at 811 and communicate with a nurse or go to an pressing care centre or clinic if you are able to do so safely. That means, our emergency medical dispatch employees and paramedics might be obtainable for individuals who want their providers essentially the most.
•    There are additionally on-line instruments at healthlinkbc.ca, together with a “Check Your Symptoms” instrument.  

Steps to guard your self, and people round you from heat-related sickness:

Keep your house cool by:
•    Opening home windows when the outside temperature goes down beneath the indoor temperature at night time
•    Shut home windows and shut curtains/blinds to maintain cooler air in and the solar out
•    Avoid making meals utilizing the oven
•    Important: If you might be experiencing excessive warmth throughout an air high quality advisory, prioritize cooling down. Heat is usually extra harmful than short-term publicity to poor air high quality.

Keep your physique cool by:
•    Wearing a moist towel or shirt
•    Taking a cool bathtub or bathe
•    Putting an ice tray in entrance of a fan
•    Using a private mister or spray bottle
•    Drinking numerous water
•    Lowering your exercise degree and avoiding intense actions
•    Important: While followers may help you are feeling extra comfy, they don’t work to decrease physique temperature at temperatures over 35C.

Do your finest to care for high-risk people by:
•    Visiting them to examine the indoor temperature of their dwelling
•    Encouraging them to take cool baths and sleep of their coolest room, such because the basement
•    Invite them to your home in case you have air con
•    Never depart kids, dependent adults or pets alone in a parked automotive. Leaving home windows open won’t assist.

Keep updated on climate alerts and data:
•    Download the WeatherCAN app
•    Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) live map

The BC Centre for Disease Control gives a broad vary of heat-related steering, together with info on the various kinds of warmth alerts, methods to put together for warm temperatures, signs of heat-related diseases, these most in danger throughout scorching climate and methods to remain cool.  

More info will also be present in BC’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide.

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Media inquiries:
Dominic Abassi
250-668-3098
Dominic.Abassi@islandhealth.ca