BC updated its heat alert system this year, moving from one general heat warning to three levels, yellow, orange, and red, so people can tell at a glance how serious a stretch of hot weather really is.
Yellow means daytime and overnight temperatures will be unusually high for at least two days in a row, worth taking seriously, especially if you have a health condition or live alone. Orange means several days in a row of very high heat, with real risk building up. Red is the most serious level, where the heat keeps climbing day after day instead of letting up, which is when people are most likely to get sick from it.
Heat hits older adults harder than most, so it helps to plan ahead: keep curtains closed during the hottest part of the day, drink water even when you’re not thirsty, and check in on a neighbour who lives alone. If you or someone you’re checking on starts feeling dizzy, nauseous, or confused in the heat, call 8-1-1 to talk to a nurse at HealthLink BC rather than waiting to see if it passes.