Recommendations and resources to prepare ahead of time.
Planning is key to making sure you are ready for a heat event. If you are able, please make sure you have some of the following:
- Air conditioning unit in at least one room if possible
- If cost is a barrier, consider if you are eligible for the BC Hydro free portable air conditioning program.
- Two weeks’ worth of any medication (both routine and flare-up/emergency) and inhalers
- Someone to check-up on you regularly if you live alone
- Window coverings to block out heat (call 211 to see if there are subsidies/rebates for cooling measures for your home)
- Portable air cleaners or air filters for your HVAC systems for potential smoke
- Cold packs in your freezer
- Lightweight clothing and linen
- Fans to bring cold air in from outside at night
- A space in the coolest part of your home, such as the basement, once outside temperatures reach 31°C
Ask a health professional how medications or health conditions can affect your risk in the heat.
Stay up-to-date – weather can change quickly. Tune in to weather forecasts and heat alerts. Use a weather app like WeatherCAN.
We also encourage you to have a plan should you need to leave your home due to the heat. This may include planning to stay with family or a friend, or relocating to cooling centers in your community during the hottest part of the days.
Resources:
Programs for home retrofits
- Energy Conservative Assistance Program (ECAP) for advice and a free energy saving kit.
- Energy Efficiency Rebate Search Tool - Better Homes BC Incentive Programs - call 1-844-881-9790 for assistance.
- CleanBC Income Qualified Program for more substantial retrofits for lower income homeowner.
- Empower Me, which tailors to multilingual households and newcomers.
- Government of Canada rebates.
Guidance
- PreparedBC’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide
- Staying Healthy in the Heat fact sheets (Health Canada)
- Parents: Keep children cool! Protect your child from extreme heat
- Athletes: You’re active in the heat. You’re at risk! Protect yourself from extreme heat
- Seniors: It’s way too hot! Protect yourself from extreme heat
- Beat the Heat B.C. (HealthLinkBC)
- Three Steps to Home Heat Protection (University of Waterloo)
- Three Steps to Apartment Heat Protection (University of Waterloo)