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Feeling the heat? You’re not alone.

Rising temperatures around the world are posing health risks to everyone. Experts say new data has shown July has been the planet’s hottest in 120,000 years.

The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo released a report last year on Irreversible Heat: Protecting Canadians and Communities from a Lethal Future. The concerns outlined in the research are even more relevant today.

READ MORE: See the full report here.

The centre has recently published new easy-to-follow heat protection guidance developed with the help of 60 national experts. The guidance, which builds on the Irreversible Heat report, spells out what residents can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, with actions identified for both houses and apartments/condos.

“The good news is that heat-related health impacts are preventable with knowledge, education, and action,” said Joanna Eyquem in a news release, who led the development of the guidelines. “While air conditioning is part of the solution, it is not a panacea. For example, we also need to plan to specifically check on vulnerable people during heat waves, such as the elderly or people living alone.”

The news release notes cities are the hotspots of global warming. The urban areas in Canada’s three “red zones” will be hardest hit by extreme heat: the southern valley regions between the West Coast and the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, prairie communities bordering the U.S., and the north shore of Lake Erie through the St. Lawrence River Valley in Ontario and Quebec. Around 30 years from now (2051-2080), the number of hot days (over 30C) per year are expected to double, triple, and in some cases quadruple.

Following these new three-step guidelines is one way residents can help themselves and others.

Homeowner Heat Protection Guidelines

Step 1: Plan ahead to keep cool; Cost $0

• Help vulnerable neighbours, family, friends prepare and arrange to check on them during heat events
• Sign up for heat alerts on your phone (i.e. WeatherCan)
• Learn how to use windows and doors to naturally ventilate your home, particularly at night
• Choose energy efficient lights and appliances that produce less ‘waste heat’
• Temporarily arrange to work or sleep in cooler rooms such as a basement

Step 2: Complete simple upgrades; DIY for under $250

• Plant and maintain shade trees, especially along the south, east and west facing sides
• Grow plants climbing up your walls and on decks and balconies
• Improve home insulation and air tightness (i.e. draft strips)
• Install blinds, heat resistant curtains or films on windows.
• Use portable or ceiling fans that increase air circulation

Step 3: Do more complex upgrades; work with a contractor for more than $250

• Convert paved areas to vegetation which absorbs less heat and more water (seek local advice on appropriate native species and, in places at risk of wildfire, consider FireSmart guidance)
• Install a green (vegetation) or reflective roof
• Shade windows with outdoor shutters and awnings
• Install windows and doors that have a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (let less heat in)
• Install and maintain a heat pump or air conditioning unit

For apartment and condo-dwellers many of the suggestions are similar but others include:

• Using shared cooling centres
• Making balconies or decks green with potted, hanging and climbing plants
• Placing tall plants with large leaves near light facing windows
• Installing temperature or humidity monitors
• Painting unit walls with white paint or light colours

Know the signs of heat illness

The Canadian Red Cross, meanwhile, reminds everyone outdoor activities can lead to heat-related emergencies such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Pets and youngsters should never be left in cars and they urge everyone to be on the lookout for heat-related illnesses. Symptoms include dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing and heartbeat, extreme thirst, decreased urination and changes in the behaviour of children.

They recommend these heat-relief activities you can do at home to help keep cool:

• Keep water in a spray bottle for a refreshing spritzer. Keep this in the fridge for an extra refresh
• Freeze water in a cup or bottle (for portability) to enjoy the melting, ice-cold water – and add some fruit for flavour
• Keep the room cooler by keeping the curtains drawn and using a no-bake recipe book
• For a nice cool draft, put ice in a shallow pan in front of a fan to sit and enjoy
  
  In a heatwave, the Red Cross says drinking plenty of cool fluids is the most important step you can take to prevent a heat emergency. Avoid strenuous exercise during the day and wear a hat and sunscreen as well as light, loose clothing. If you begin to feel unwell, move to a shady, cool place and drink plenty of water. If symptoms persist, call 911.

They urge people to be better prepared by taking a First Aid course to learn the signs, symptoms and treatment of heat-related illnesses. To find a course near you at: www.redcross.ca/firstaid.

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