New heat wave: B.C. unveils plan for protecting communities, says 'personal precautions' also needed
The B.C. government has unveiled its plans for protecting vulnerable communities during the province's latest heat wave, but said residents should take "personal precautions" as well.
Rising temperatures have prompted heat warnings in 19 regions of B.C., including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and officials said they have taken a number of steps to brace for potentially dangerous conditions.
But Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth also urged the public to monitor their local weather, stay hydrated, and to check in on one another, particularly those who live alone.
"Be sure to use the supports available and to take extra care of any vulnerable people and family, friends and pets this weekend," Farnworth said during a news conference Friday.
The government faced sharp criticism for its response to the last heat wave that struck in late June, and which contributed to an estimated 580 deaths.
One major issue was long ambulance wait times that sometimes dragged for hours, something Health Minister Adrian Dix said officials are working hard to correct this time around.
"The B.C. Ambulance Service is ready to serve you. The new chief ambulance officer is taking steps to ensure people who call for help get help, and get help quickly," Dix said.
In rural areas, on-call shifts are being activated full-time over the weekend. The BCAS is also pre-scheduling overtime, allowing paramedics to pick their times and partners in advance.
Paramedics themselves are being taken care of with supplies of water and Gatorade, Dix added, and are being allowed to wear clothing that is summer-appropriate.
Hospitals are also bracing for a potential influx of heat-related patients.
"Staff are being redeployed to emergency rooms to meet demand and steps are in place to keep people in hospitals cool and safe," Dix said. "In long-term care, residents and their families will see staff taking proactive steps to keep everyone hydrated and cool."
To prevent heat-related illnesses, the provincial government is working with health authorities, local governments and First Nations to co-ordinate their weather responses, and will be reimbursing communities for the opening of cooling centres where residents without access to air conditioning can find refuge from the heat.
The province will also help provide transportation to and from cooling centres that aren't reasonably accessible by public transportation, and pay for staff and overtime costs for the use of civic facilities that wouldn't otherwise be open.
The Emergency Info B.C. website has a list of cooling centres and other information to help people through the heat wave.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.