The City of Nanaimo has all of their hot-weather resources in place to help locals stay cool during the first stretch of hot weather this summer. (File photo)

By Jordan Davidson

getting hotter

How to stay cool in Nanaimo as the mercury climbs

Jul 5, 2024 | 12:28 PM

NANAIMO — With hot weather remaining for the next several days, the City of Nanaimo is offering advice on staying cool.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning on Thursday, July 4, for the entirety of eastern Vancouver Island, with daily high temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or more expected from Friday, July 5 until the middle of next week, with overnight lows of only 15 or above.

Manager of social planning with the City of Nanaimo Christy Wood told NanaimoNewsNOW their emergency weather protocol is a bit different for heat compared to cold, but their focus is ensuring those most at risk are looked after.

“We kind of follow the cue of our Island Health partners and our health emergency management partners around the most at-risk vulnerable population, especially those (type of) folks who died from extreme heat in the heat dome event.”

The City also has an extensive list of ways to stay cool locally here on their website, including resources on how to keep your home from overheating at little to no cost.

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Island Health urged residents to be cautious as the heatwave started to settle over the mid-Island earlier in the week, offering a number of ways to stay cool.

Older adults, those with a disability or chronic disease, those who use substances or live on the street, and even individuals who do not have an air conditioner may be vulnerable to health risks during extreme health.

Those looking to cool down can access the air-conditioned lobbies of City-operated facilities, along with four local water parks, a misting station at Maffeo Sutton Park, and plenty of outdoor bodies of water to safely enjoy.

Wood said the City works together with community groups and Island Health to ensure those most vulnerable to extreme weather are looked after.

“We’ve already been launching a lot of communication materials that are distributed to populations and neighbourhoods most at risk for those high-risk populations, and just communication content that really includes knowing about who’s at risk.”

She said information is being handed out at City recreation facilities, the library, medical clinics and doctors’ offices, as well as an extensive list of ways to beat the heat on their website.

Wood said they are also reaching out to members of Nanaimo’s unhoused population, a group which often struggles the most when it comes to dealing with extreme weather conditions.

“That usually includes conducting wellness checks to our outreach teams, especially with our community safety officers, so they’ll be out providing water and other cooling supplies and just encouraging people to shelter in the shaded or riparian areas.”

And let’s not forget about our pets, as the BC SPCA also provides tips to keep your furry friends cool.

As of midday Friday, Environment Canada indicates it won’t be until Wednesday, July 10 before daytime highs dip below the 30-degree mark.

There is also no change to the current fire bans in the Coastal Fire Centre, which currently doesn’t allow any type of burning besides small campfires under half a meter by half a meter.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow