Heat Warning Issued

We have received notice that a Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a Heat Warning for the Fraser Valley for Aug 11 & 12. Daytime high temperatures will reach 33C with overnight lows near 17C. A cooling trend is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat related illness increases, particularly in seniors and those more vulnerable. 

Since 2022 Menno Place has made significant improvements the our air conditioning across our campus, especially in our long-term care buildings. Along with these improvements, what can friends and family members do to help mitigate the heat and minimize its impact on our seniors?

1. FANS – Ensure your loved one in Menno Home or Menno Hospital has a fan that can bring cool air into their room from the common areas that are cooler
2. WINDOW COVERINGS – Keep the curtains / blinds closed to keep the heat out.
3. AIR CONDITIONER – The apartments  can have individual air-conditioners ]installed – Click for air-conditioner specifications
4. HYDRATION – Ensure your loved one has fluids available for their hydration needs. Menno Place provides water in the apartment foyers and for all residents in Menno Home and Menno Hospital
5. COMMUNICATION – Call your loved one to see how they are doing. Call Menno Place if you want to know how your loved one is doing in the heat.

To protect our residents and tenants, we pro-actively monitor for heat-related conditions, following our Heat Preparedness Plan.

We mitigate risk by:

• ensuring hydration to all those who receive care services
• providing water / hydration stations in all buildings for staff and tenants
• providing cooling cloths to all who receive care services
• closing blinds/curtains and ask tenants to do the same
• ensure those in care are wearing light-weight clothing and reminding tenants to do the same
• encouraging apartment tenants to seek out air-conditioned spaces or get an air-conditioner installed

As a reminder, fans may not effectively reduce body temperatures or prevent heat-related illness in people at risk. Fans should be used to move cool air around and not be used as a primary cooling device. In Menno Home and Hospital, staff will expose residents to air conditioned spaces whenever possible. Visitors and family members for those in the Apartments should do the same. Residents should move into common spaces which are air-conditioned in the Apartments in order to keep cool.

Does your loved one live in Independent Living Apartments (Pavilion, Terrace West, Primrose Gardens):

Call them daily during the Extreme / Heat Warning to ensure that they know how to keep cool and are following the recommended safety measures (below).

Quick Tips for Extreme Heat

How to keep your body cool and comfortable:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Put on sunscreen when outside
3. Wear loose fitting, light coloured, breathable clothing
4. Avoid being in direct sunlight for too long
5. Place a cold, wet towel around your neck
6. Keep your apartment cool by closing the blinds, using AC, and limiting oven use
7. Shower, bathe, or sponge off with cool water

How do I get air-conditioning in the apartments? What A/C unit should I purchase? CLICK HERE FOR ALL DETAILS

And if you experience symptoms of a heat stroke (high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and very hot and red skin), call 9-1-1.

How to keep your apartment suite cool and comfortable:

• Turn off the heat in your room on the thermostat
• Turn on air-conditioning. Keep it on throughout the heat warning.
• If you have air-conditioning, keep your doors and windows closed to keep the cold air in
• Close your blinds or curtains in bedroom and living room to keep out the sun/heat
• Do not go outside, or choose to take your walks early morning
• Do not sit in a parked car or leave a pet in a parked car
• Avoid using the stove to cook a meal
• Take a break if your suite is hot, and spend some time on the 1^st floor of your building in the air-conditioned common areas. Bring a book, or some knitting and relax.
• If it cools down (below 26C) at night, open your windows and doors to let in the cool air
• Make arrangements to stay at someone’s air-conditioned place, or hotel to cool down
• Sprinkle clothing with water
• Splash cool water on your face and back of neck

If you can’t get cool enough, call your family or support friends and check in. Let them know you could use some help. Try to plan a visit with your family who has air-conditioning.

Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

• Skin rash
• Heavy Sweating
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rapid Heartbeat and breathing
• Muscle cramps
• Extreme thirst and/or dark urine or decreased urination

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should move to a cool space immediately and let someone know they are not feeling well.

Heat Stroke Symptoms

• High body temperature
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Lack of coordination
• Very hot and red skin

Anyone with any of these symptoms should call 911 immediately.