People in East Vancouver Island should “take it easy” during a hot weekend where incidents of heat-related illnesses could rise, says Island Health.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning on Saturday for a wide swath of East Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Duncan. It remained in place on Sunday morning.
Temperatures for the area are expected to soar into the high 20s and mid 30s during the day, with overnight temperatures in the low 10s due to a ridge of high atmospheric pressure, the weather agency said. At the Victoria airport on Saturday, temperatures peaked at 27 C at 6 p.m. and didn’t drop below 20 C until 9 p.m.
Hot weather brings along an increased risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
In a Satuday notice, Island Health is advising people to “take it easy,” particularly during the hottest hours of the day.
Take immediate action to cool down if signs of overheating, such as headaches and dizziness arise, it said.
Seek cooler environments, drink water and use damp clothing or towels to cool down the body, Island Health said.
Call 911 if severe heat-related symptoms develop, such as fainting, confusion, lack of sweat, rapid breathing or a body temperature above 39 C is recorded, it said.
The province has not declared an extreme heat emergency on Vancouver Island, the health authority said.
Island Health said that while everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, the increased temperatures are especially dangerous for older adults, people who live alone, people with pre-existing health conditions, workers in hot environments, those who are marginally housed, people with mental illnesses as well as infants and young children.
More tips on how to stay safe in the heat can be found on the Island Health and B.C. Centre of Disease Control websites.
