Extreme Heat at Home Checklist

Heat at home is more dangerous than it feels, particularly for older adults, babies, people with chronic illness and people who live alone.

Indoor temperature

PreparedBC says heat risk rises above 26°C (79°F) indoors, and that above 31°C (88°F) can be dangerous, especially if it does not drop at night. US pages I opened do not give an indoor number. Keep an easy-to-read thermometer in the room where people sleep.

Cooling the home

1. Close blinds and curtains during the day. Exterior window covers can lower indoor temperature by 2°C to 3°C (about 4°F to 5°F).
2. PreparedBC’s rule of thumb: keep windows and doors shut from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., then open them when it is cooler outside.
3. Avoid the oven. Make no-cook meals.
4. Set up the coolest room as a place to sleep and spend the day.
5. Take cool showers or baths, or put your feet in cool water.

Fans

Do not depend on fans alone. CDC says fans will not prevent heat illness when temperatures are very high, and PreparedBC says not to rely on them as your main cooling. Use them in the evening and early morning to bring in cooler air.

Heat illness

Tiredness, nausea, dizziness, headache and weakness mean stop, cool down and drink water. Get medical help if it continues or gets worse.

Heat stroke is an emergency. Signs include confusion, fainting, seizures, vomiting, chest pain, trouble breathing, or very high body temperature. Call 911. Move to a cooler place. Take a cool shower if safe, or apply wet cloths and ice packs to the neck, armpits and groin.

Never leave people or pets in a parked vehicle, even on a moderately hot day.

If the power is out or the home stays too hot, go to a cooling centre, a library, or a friend with air conditioning. If smoke is also present, see the smoke checklist. Keeping cool comes first.