Summer in BC is usually gentle: fresh ocean breezes, cool evenings, and moderate warmth. But when heat waves hit, the sun cranks up the heat, and what feels like a nice summer day can quietly turn dangerous.
This is happening more often as climate change affects our communities, health, and daily lives. In BC, when temperatures stay high for two or more days, health authorities issue heat alerts so people can prepare.
You will see these alerts through local news and radio, weather apps & websites, municipal social media posts, and the free WeatherCAN, which sends push notifications directly to your phone.
Why 30°C May Actually Feel Hotter
If you come from a country with hotter summers, you may wonder: Why does BC issue heat warnings at 30°C?
The short answer is: heat here works differently.
- Longer daylight hours: In summer, the sun can shine for up to 16 hours, heating buildings and streets much longer than in many countries closer to the equator.
- Stronger sunlight: At BC’s latitude, sunlight is more direct and intense, even if the air temperature feels cooler.
- Warm nights: When evenings stay hot, your body can’t recover, and heat stress builds up.
That’s why a BC “heat warning” should always be taken seriously.
Would You Recognize the Signs?
Heatstroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It happens when your body can no longer cool itself. Often, it starts with heat exhaustion:
- Heavy sweating, skin rash
- Dizziness or headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps, extreme thirst
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
If ignored, this can escalate to heatstroke. Warning signs include:
- High body temperature
- Drowsiness or fainting
- Confusion or unusual behaviour
- Very hot, red skin
If someone faints or seems disoriented in the heat, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, move them to a cool place, remove excess clothing, and use cool water, wet towels, or ice packs to lower their body temperature.
Staying Cool Without Air Conditioning
The best way to prevent heat-related illness is to spend time in a cool space and limit outdoor activity during peak hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
If you don’t have air conditioning at home, here’s what you can do instead:
- Drink water often — even before you feel thirsty. Electrolyte drinks (like sports drinks) can help replace minerals lost through sweat, but check with your doctor if you have health conditions.
- Find a cooling space — malls, libraries, and community centres are free and welcoming.
- Keep your home cooler — close blinds during the day, open windows at night.
- Use fans wisely — they can circulate air, but remember they don’t prevent heatstroke at very high temperatures.
For those who are heat-vulnerable, health risks rise when it’s above 26°C indoors. So it is important to monitor indoor temperatures. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can still notice signs of your home being too hot, like walls or furniture staying warm at night.
Look Out for Each Other
Many newcomers may not have family or relatives nearby. That’s why community connection becomes even more important during a heat wave. A simple phone call, text, or knock on a neighbour’s door can make a big difference.
During heat events:
- Check on seniors and children often.
- Call a neighbour who lives alone.
- Never leave kids or pets in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
- Be aware that people with diabetes, heart or respiratory disease, people who are pregnant, or people working outdoors are at higher risk.
A simple “heat check-in” — a call, text, or visit — can save lives. You don’t need medical training to ask if someone is coping or needs help.
For more guidance, check out this guide from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH).
Where to Get Care
In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. However, it is important to use emergency services responsibly to avoid overwhelming the system.
Call 911 right away if:
- Someone has chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, or signs of a stroke.
- During hot weather, watch for severe headache, confusion, unsteadiness, loss of thirst, nausea or vomiting, or very dark / no urine — these are red flags for dangerous heat illness.
For non-emergencies:
- You can call HealthLinkBC at 811 and speak with a nurse. Support is available in more than 130 languages.
- Visit an urgent care centre or walk-in clinic if safe to do so.
- Use the BC Health Symptom Checker online for guidance.
More Resources
There are many resources to help you and your family prepare for heat:
- The BC heat safety guide is available in English, French, Chinese, and Punjabi.
- Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health provide checklists and posters translated into many languages — including Hindi, Korean, Farsi, Spanish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Gujarati, and others.
At MOSAIC, we connect communities through multilingual staff and volunteers. During heat emergencies, our teams make phone calls to seniors in their own languages to check on their safety.
Heat waves in BC may look mild on a thermometer, but the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke is real. Please share these tips with family, friends, and neighbours. The more we look out for each other, the safer our communities will be.
Remember: if you feel unwell in the heat, listen to your body — it may be telling you it’s time to cool down.
