By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
With temperatures in the South Okanagan forecast to hit 37°C on Tuesday a “Yellow warning” for heat has been issued for the Interior including the Okanagan Valley, Fraser Canyon, South Thompson, Shuswap, Boundary, West Kootenay from Tuesday to early Friday (July 21-24).
A period of elevated temperatures is expected on the back of a ridge of high pressure bringing elevated temperatures to the region, according to Environment Canada.
Daytime highs are expected to be in the mid to high 30s with overnight lows in the mid to high teens. High temperatures may persist until Thursday, followed by a cooling trend, it added.
Residents are advised to keep your house cool by turning on your air conditioning (if possible), block the sun by closing curtains or blinds, or relocate to a cooler location such as a basement or public cooling centre.
Fans alone cannot effectively lower core body temperature, especially for older adults. Use fans to pull in cooler air from outdoors, but if you or someone you care for is experiencing symptoms of heat illness, find a cooler space, Environment Canada advised.
Heat affects everyone, but the risks are greater for: seniors, people who live alone, people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease, people with mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety, people with substance use disorders, people with limited mobility.
The environment ministry urges people to check on family, friends and neighbours, who are at higher risk, particularly if they live alone, to make sure they have a cool space. Watch for the effects of heat illness: heavy sweating, rash, cramps, fainting, high body temperature and the worsening of some health conditions.
For more information visit Health Canada’s extreme heat webpages here and here. HealthLinkBC online also provides resources about heat-related illness and how to protect yourself at here. Call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1 to ask about heat-related illness.
