폭염

Seniors drinking water

폭염은 매우 위험할 수 있습니다. 열탈진과 열사병의 증상을 알아보고 여름철에 본인과 이웃, 친구, 가족의 건강을 어떻게 지킬수 있는지 확인하세요.

고위험군

사람들은 더위에 각자 다르게 반응합니다. 일부는 더위가 건강에 영향을 미치는 고위험군으로 분류됩니다. 다음과 같은 고위험군에게는 서늘한 온도를 유지하는 것이 특별히 중요합니다.

  • 60세 이상의 노인
  • 혼자 사는 사람들
  • 당뇨, 심장병, 호흡기병과 같은 기저 질환 환자
  • 조현병, 우울증 또는 불안증과 같은 정신질환 환자
  • 알코올중독과 같은 약물 남용 환자
  • 거동이 불편한 사람들
  • 불안정한 주택 상황에 처한 사람들
  • 더운 곳에서 일하는 사람들
  • 임산부
  • 영아와 어린 아이들

이외 다른 사람들도 더위에 영향을 받을 수 있습니다. 모든 사람들은 더위에 다르게 반응하니 몸이 보내는 신호에 귀를 기울이세요.

고위험군

사람들은 더위에 각자 다르게 반응합니다. 일부는 더위가 건강에 영향을 미치는 고위험군으로 분류됩니다. 다음과 같은 고위험군에게는 서늘한 온도를 유지하는 것이 특별히 중요합니다.

  • 60세 이상의 노인
  • 혼자 사는 사람들
  • 당뇨, 심장병, 호흡기병과 같은 기저 질환 환자
  • 조현병, 우울증 또는 불안증과 같은 정신질환 환자
  • 알코올중독과 같은 약물 남용 환자
  • 거동이 불편한 사람들
  • 불안정한 주택 상황에 처한 사람들
  • 더운 곳에서 일하는 사람들
  • 임산부
  • 영아와 어린 아이들

이외 다른 사람들도 더위에 영향을 받을 수 있습니다. 모든 사람들은 더위에 다르게 반응하니 몸이 보내는 신호에 귀를 기울이세요.

안부 확인

이웃과 친구, 가족들이 선선한 곳에서 지내고 있는지, 폭염 대책이 준비되어 있는지 안부를 자주 확인하세요. 안부 전화가 생명을 구할 수도 있습니다.

지난 번 폭염에서 많은 수의 사람들이 사회적으로 고립된 채 집에서 사망했습니다.

Cover of heath check-in support framework

비정부기관을 위한 밴쿠버 코스탈 헬스의 폭염 안전 확인 지원 체계

2022년 봄에 밴쿠버 코스탈 헬스의 건강환경팀은 지방 정부 및 지역 사회 단체들과 연계하여 폭염시 지역 주민들의 안전 확인 활동에 어떻게 도움이 될 수 있는지 연구했습니다. 연구 참가자들은 안전 확인을 어떻게 진행할지 그리고 직원들과 안전 확인 대상자들 사이에서 예상되는 공통 질문에 어떻게 답변할지를 정했습니다. 폭염 안전 확인은 갖가지 상황에서 각기 다른 교육을 받은 직원과 자원봉사자들에 의해 이루어집니다. 이 지원 체계는 다양한 상황을 고려하여 만들어졌기 때문에 지역사회 단체들은 해당 상황에 필요한 정보를 선택하여 자체적으로 안전 확인 계획을 세울 수 있습니다.

폭염 안전 확인 지원 체계 다운로드

Steps to protect yourself and others from heat

The most dangerous aspect of heat waves for most people is high indoor temperatures. Spending time in a cool space and drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Wildfire smoke can also cause health problems. During both wildfire smoke and heat events, consider also filtering your air using HEPA air cleaners. Find out more about wildfire smoke.

  • Keep yourself and other people cool

    • Spend time in cooler indoor and outdoor spaces (i.e. community center, library or mall with air conditioning).
    • Drink plenty of water and other liquids to stay hydrated, even if you do not feel thirsty.
    • Cool off with a shower, bath or soaking part of your body in water.
    • Wear a wet shirt or damp towels to cool down.
    • Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing.
    • Limit activity, especially during the hottest hours of the day (generally 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in B.C.).
    • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. For heat-vulnerable people, the risk for heat-related illness may increase at indoor temperatures over 26°C (78 °F) and may be very high at indoor temperatures over 31°C (88 °F).
  • Keep spaces cool

    • During the day, close windows and shades/blinds to trap cooler air inside and block the sun.
    • At night, open windows and doors when it is cooler outside (usually 9-10 p.m. in B.C.). Some bathroom and kitchen fans vent outside and can be used to remove warmer indoor air. Use portable fans to bring cool air into the home overnight.
    • Consider getting an air conditioner for your home. If you have air conditioning, be sure to turn it on.
    • Monitor indoor temperatures for yourself and those you are checking on. For heat-vulnerable people, the risk for heat-related illness may increase at indoor temperatures over 26°C (78 °F).

How to check-in and support others during hot weather

Checking in with someone during a heat wave can save lives. A heat check-in is a visit, call, or text to assess the heat-related safety of the home, if the person shows signs of heat-related illness, and if they need help. Anyone can do a heat check-in and health training is not required. 

caregiver with senior

NCCEH guide: How to check in with people during a heat wave

Use this guide from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH) to check in with family, friends, neighbours and other community members who may be at higher risk for heat illness. Available for download in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi.

Learn more

extreme heat check in thumbnail

VCH guide for community organizations checking in with people during heat waves

Heat check-ins happen in a variety of settings and are carried out by organizational staff or volunteers with diverse training. This framework was created so organizations may select the information that is most relevant to their setting to develop their own organizational heat check-in plans.

Learn more

senior with a family member outdoors

Heat check-in training (video)

Watch this video and go through the practice scenarios to learn the basic steps of a heat check-in.

Watch video

adults speaking to each other

Heat check-in: Train the trainer (video)

This train-the-trainer video resource is for organizations training their staff or volunteers to do heat check-ins.

Watch video

Cooling centres and cooling spaces

Map BC Housing

Local weather, shelter, and emergency information

During extreme heat events, it is important to spend time in cool spaces. Several cities and towns in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region operate specialized cooling centres or encourage people to use other public spaces to cool down (like libraries, community centres and parks). Misting and water fill station stations may also be provided during a heat event.

Learn more

Sign directing to a cooling centre

Creating cooling spaces during hot weather

Evidence-informed public health guidance for community organizations to set up and operate inclusive, acceptable, and effective cool spaces in a variety of facilities.

Learn more

extreme heat policy

Policy tools to create and support cooler, safer indoor living spaces

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) conducted a review of policy and regulatory options that could increase thermal safety in homes within the VCH health region. In addition to describing a variety of policy options, findings indicate that multiple policy interventions at different levels of government are needed, as are strategies to overcome significant challenges relating to cost and feasibility, and to avoid unintended consequences.

Learn more

“Heat Warnings” and “Extreme Heat Emergencies”

In response to the 2021 BC heat dome, multiple health sector partners, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) developed the BC Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS). This two-level alert system lays out the criteria that ECCC will use to declare a Heat Warning (Level 1) or an Extreme Heat Emergency (Level 2), the appropriate public health messaging for both types of alerts, and the recommended actions for the health sector, local governments, and other partners. 

Read more about the BC HARS on the BCCDC website.

Alerts

  • Heat Warning (Level 1)

    Threat: Daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than seasonal norms and holding steady.
    Action: Take the usual steps to stay cool and check on people at higher risk from heat.

  • Extreme Heat Emergency (Level 2)

    Threat: Daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than seasonal norms and getting hotter every day. 
    Action: Activate your emergency plan and check on people at higher risk from heat at least once a day. 

Extreme heat research and data

extreme heat graphics for visualizing climate action

Vancouver’s Indoor HEAT Study (2021-2023)

This multi-year Indoor HEAT Study collected indoor air temperature, building, and household data from Vancouver residents to better understand indoor heat exposure and inform recommendations for keeping homes safely cool.

Read the results of the study

bc heat dome extreme heat

2021 BC heat dome and VCH ER visits

Following the 2021 BC heat dome, the VCH Public Health Surveillance Unit studied emergency room visit data in collaboration with VCH and Providence Health Care Emergency Medicine programs. This event led to a substantial increase in Emergency Department visits related to heat-related illness in VCH hospitals. These visit rates varied significantly by area of residence and age.

Read the full report

extreme heat thumbnail

Coming soon: VCH CLEAR Report

The Climate, Lived Experience, And Resilience (“CLEAR”) Community Consultation Report recognizes the unique knowledge and insights of people with lived experience of climate-related events. CLEAR has been an ongoing engagement process since the 2021 BC Heat Dome, which involved engagement and community consultation to hear and learn from equity-deserving populations on lived experiences from the 2021 BC Heat Dome.

Read the full report

폭염 참고자료

    • Public weather alerts for British Columbia -including heat and air quality alerts

      Environment and Climate Change Canada

    • WeatherCAN App -weather alerts to smart phones, including heat and air quality alerts

      Environment and Climate Change Canada

    • Hello weather – automated telephone weather service

      Environment and Climate Change Canada

    • Extreme heat poster - English

      Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health

    • Extreme heat poster - Translated

      Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health; Available in: English, Arabic, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Hindi, Korean, Farsi, Punjabi, Spanish, Urdu, Vietnamese and Gujarati

    • Health checks during extreme heat events

      National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health; Available in: English, French, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

    • Extreme heat preparedness guide

      Prepared BC; Available in: English, French, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

    • Fans in extreme heat FAQ

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health

    • Build your own cool kit

      Vancouver Coastal Health and the City of Vancouver (Find at the bottom of the page); Available in: English, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese.

    • Heat-related illness in infants and young children

      HealthLink BC; Available in: English, Arabic, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

    • Prepared together for extreme heat

      Building Resilient Neighbourhoods and Hey Neighbour Collective; Neighbour-to-neighbour connections may save lives during heat events. See tips to connect, learn, & collaborate with neighbours.

    • AC Care

      Aboriginal Housing Management Association; Recommendations on safe and efficient operation of portable air conditioning units.

    • Heat check-in support framework for non-governmental organizations

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health

    • Heat check-in support framework for non-governmental organizations

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health

    • Heat check-in support framework for non-governmental organizations

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health

    • Example heat check-in script

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Heat check-In training slides

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Heat check-in training: Train the trainer slides

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Heat check-in practice scenarios

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Heat check-in practice scenarios: Facilitation guide

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Extreme weather check-in calls for multilingual seniors

      MOSAIC. Available in multiple languages

    • Creating cooling spaces during hot weather: Guidance for community organizations

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Emergency support for seniors framework

      Renfrew Collingwood Senior’s Society

    • Heat stress information for workers

      WorkSafe BC

    • Sample Heat and Wildfire Smoke Plan for Local Governments

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Heat response planning for Southern Interior B.C. communities: A toolkit

      Interior Health; Learn what your community can do to prepare for heat.

    • Outdoor Gatherings Guidance

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • How to be a heat-healthy business leader

      Fraser Health

    • Heat stress information for workers

      WorkSafe BC

    • Child care facilities and heat

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Community care facilities and heat

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Resource guide: Heat Planning

      VCH and Health Emergency Management BC; How community care facilities can begin heat planning and recommended months for each step.

    • Heat Response Plan Template

      VCH and Health Emergency Management BC; Fillable heat response plan template for community care facilities.

    • Site assessment checklist

      VCH and Health Emergency Management BC; Detailed site and clinical checklists to assist community care facilities with heat planning.

    • Resident risk identification guidance

      VCH and Health Emergency Management BC; Criteria to identify residents in community care facilities at highest risk from heat-related illness.

    • Heat response preparation checklists

      VCH and Health Emergency Management BC; Brief checklist for community care facilities to complete before each heat season.

    • Heat response temperature log

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Health Emergency Management BC; Indoor temperature recording template for community care facilities.

    • Heat response checklist

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Health Emergency Management BC; Daily readiness check for community care facilities during heat alerts.

    • Heat-related illness: Prevention and Management in Community Care Facilities

      Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care

    • Extreme Heat Guidance for Restaurants

      Vancouver Coastal Health

    • Pool Operators on Extreme Heat and Smoke

      Fraser Health

    • Summer heat, smoke and health: Recommended actions for owners and managers of rental and strata housing

      Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health

    • Resources to prepare buildings and facilities for extreme heat

      BC Housing

    • Heat wellness check-in card for tenants

      BC Housing

    • Creating cooling spaces during hot weather: Guidance for community organizations

      Vancouver Coastal Health

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