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 Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.