City of Kamloops, Interior Health talk heat safety as temperatures remain above seasonal levels

New this year in Kamloops is a Heat Response Pass which will allow people to access free skating and swimming at city facilities. The free pass will also give people access to a free seniors’ drop-in program at Heritage House on Thursdays.

Heat response passes are available at one of seven agencies including BCG Kamloops, the Centre for Seniors Information, Interior Community Services, the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, the Kamloops Food Bank, Kamloops Immigrant Services, and the Mount Paul Community Food Centre.

“We encourage individuals who know that they do not have a safe space to cool down to reach out to an agency,” Ty Helgason, the City’s Emergency Preparedness Manager said, in a statement.

“Our participating partners are ready to help connect individuals with a pass. Taking these steps now ensures everyone who needs access to a cool space has options to stay comfortable and safe when the heat hits.”

Seniors looking to beat the heat can also access the Kamloops Seniors Community Centre on Cottonwood Avenue, which is open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The City’s heat response plan also includes outdoor cooling spaces like water parks, soon-to be installed misting stations, and parks with drinking water fountains. It also features neighbour health checks, expanded community outreach, and “better messaging” about the heat response plan before, during, and after extreme heat events.

It won’t involve the use of large, centralized cooling facilities at either Sandman Centre or McArthur Island as part of the city’s gradual move to a more diverse network of cooling options across the community instead of large centralized hubs.

Community Service Officers (CSOs) will still be tasked with coordinating response efforts for people on the streets so they can be connected with outreach programs. They will also hand out water and coordinate transportation so people can be taken to shelters to cool down.

Dr. Sue Pollock, a Medical Health Officer with Interior Health, also urged people to develop a buddy system and to check on people who are very old, very young, pregnant, and those who don’t have access to cooling options as they tend to be more susceptible to heat.

“Those are individuals who need to be particularly careful during these times of extreme heat,” Pollock added. “If people are outdoors, they can look for a shaded area – a park where there are lots of trees, maybe cooling down in a lake, or a river.”

“If the temperatures starts to climb and they are unable to be cool outdoors, then we remind people they should be seeking cool air indoors.”

Pollock also said its important to take it easy during the hottest hours of the day, and to drink plenty of water. The health authority is also urging people to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, how to prevent it, how to treat it, and when to seek medical care.

“We do want people to be able to enjoy the outdoors but it is important that people are aware that heat can be harmful to our health,” Pollock said.

“The City is committed to doing the best we can to share information from our partners to educate and inform our residents on how they can best prepare for potential extreme heat this summer,” added Helgason.

A list of tips from Interior Health to protect yourself from summer heat can be found here.

by Victor Kaisar

City of Kamloops, Interior Health talk heat safety as temperatures remain above seasonal levels

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