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Staying Cool During Extreme Heat

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Keep safe during heat waves with ways to stay cool and find shade. Learn how to identify and prevent heat-related illnesses to protect yourself and others.

August 26, 2023
Notice

Heat warning

A heat warning is when daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than usual, but are not getting hotter every day. The threshold is set by Environment Canada and is specific for the Fraser region.

A warning will be issued when conditions reach daytime temperatures of 33°C (91.4°F) and a nighttime low of 17 °C (62.6°F) followed by a forecast of 33°C (91.4°F) for the following daytime temperature.

Extreme heat emergency

An extreme heat emergency is when daytime and overnight temperatures increase above the warning threshold for 3 consecutive days or more.

Stay safe in extreme heat

Take steps to stay safe and avoid heat-related illness. High heat can pose an immediate danger to your health, so do what you can to stay cool:

    Drink water 

    • Stay hydrated with plenty of water and other fluids.
    • Drink water before you are thirsty
    • Avoid things like alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you.

    Dress for the weather

    • Wear lightweight, lightly coloured cotton clothing.
    • Wear long sleeves to protect from the sun.
    • Remember your wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

    Be aware of heat-related illness

    • Symptoms include thirst, dizziness, confusion, weakness and fainting or collapsing. See full list of symptoms from Fraser Health
    • Check yourself, family members, and neighbors.
    • Seek medical attention if sweating heavily, pale, cramping, fatigued, dizzy or having headaches/nausea.

    Never leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Temperatures can rise to 52°C (125°F) within 20 minutes in an enclosed vehicle when the outside temperature is 34°C (93°F). Leaving the car windows slightly open or "cracked" will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature.

    For medical attention

    • Phone 9-1-1 for emergencies
    • Phone 8-1-1 for health-related illnesses
    • Phone 2-1-1 to connect with other services

    Wear sunscreen: Remember to reapply as needed.

    Find shade: Parks with tree shade are a good option Stay out of the sun as much as possible.

    Find shelter: Libraries, shopping malls, and recreation and community centres are cool places to take a break from the heat. 

    Plan ahead: Knowing how to prepare for a heat wave ahead of time will help keep you safe during high heat. See how to prepare for heat season.

    Extreme heat relief locations

    The following City of Surrey civic facilities are available to anyone seeking relief from extreme heat.

    View List aS PDF

    Cloverdale

    Guildford

    Fleetwood

    Newton

    South Surrey

    Whalley/City Centre

    * The City is supporting people who bring a pet when they come to recreation facilities to escape the heat. Pet owners must remain with their pet at all times, bring necessary supplies, and are encouraged to bring a crate to house their pet. All pets must either be on a leash or in a crate while in the facility.

    Community cooling stations

    Many community partners provide access to cooling stations and misting tents at several locations around Surrey. These are in addition to civic facilities and locations will be listed here when they are open:

    SEE LOCATIONS

    Donations needed: extreme heat supplies

    Homelessness Services Association of BC is collecting supplies to support unhoused and vulnerable community members during heat events this summer. Supplies needed:

    • sunscreen (small bottles if possible)
    • bottled water
    • single-use cooling packs
    • gatorade
    • hats & spray bottles
    • battery-operated handheld fans
    • coolers
    • granola bars  & juice boxes
    • freezies
    • gift cards

    Drop off at:

    SOURCES - Newton Resource Centre, #102 13771 72A Ave. Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. 778-617-2222

    SOURCES - Food Bank South Surrey White Rock, 2343 156 St. Monday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. 604-531-8168

    Surrey Alliance Church (east building), 13474 96 Ave. Monday to Thursday, 10:00am-4:00pm. 604-584-7617

    Donations of all sizes and quantities are helpful!

    Outdoor pools & beaches

    These destinations and amenities provide a good way to cool off.

    Outdoor drinking fountains in city parks are also in full operation. Review a list of water fountain locations in Surrey parks.

    Visit any of our outdoor pools or Crescent Beach this summer to beat the heat:

    • Bear Creek Outdoor Pool
    • Kwantlen Outdoor Pool
    • Unwin Outdoor Pool 
    • Hjorth Road Outdoor Pool 
    • Holly Outdoor Pool
    • Greenaway Outdoor Pool
    • Port Kells Outdoor Pool
    • Sunnyside Outdoor Pool

    Spray parks

    Spray parks are open at: 

    • Bear Creek Park
    • Bridgeview Park
    • Cloverdale Athletic Park
    • Erma Stephenson Park
    • Fleetwood Park
    • Goldstone Park
    • Hawthorne Rotary Park
    • Hazelgrove Park
    • Newton Athletic Park
    • Unwin Park
    • South Surrey Athletic Park

    Check in on others

    While everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for the young, the elderly, those working or exercising in the heat, persons with chronic heart and lung conditions, persons with mental illness, people living alone, and people experiencing homelessness.

    • Check regularly on older people, and those who are unable to leave their homes, for signs of heat-related illness.
    • Ask whether people know how to prevent heat-related illness and are doing the same.
    • If others are unwell, move them to a cool shady spot, help them get hydrated, and call for medical assistance if appropriate.

    Learn more about health checks from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health.

    Review the following brochures from the Government of Canada for specific at-risk groups:

    Protecting pets

    Hot weather also affects our pets. Leaving animals at home indoors is the safest option during a heat wave. Another good choice is taking them to an off-leash dog park with access to water or to one of the pet-friendly civic facilities listed above.

    The temperature in a parked car can heat rapidly, so it’s extremely dangerous to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle. If you see an animal in distress, report it to the BC SPCA immediately.

    The following dog off-leash areas have access to water: 

    • Blackie Spit (3136 McBride) 
    • Clayton (7011 188 St) 
    • Serpentine (12589 76 Ave) 
    • Freedom (15452 84 Ave) 
    • Kennedy (9058 Holt Rd) 
    • Panorama (12863 60 Ave) 
    • Wills Brook (2955 160 St) 
    • Fraser View (11210 159a St) 
    • Dogwood (13485 20 Ave) 
    • Bolivar (13290 115 Ave) 

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