When Environment Canada issues a Heat Warning
Enjoy time outside while staying safe and protecting your health.
Use these helpful tips to keep cool:
- Seek cooler, breezier areas when outdoors, such as large parks near to water with lots of trees.
- Take it slow with outdoor activities – rest and relax often if you feel fatigued.
- Stay out of the sun as much as possible; remember temperatures are typically at their highest between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
- Stay hydrated – drink water regularly, even more than you think you need.
- Stock up on items like sunscreen, water bottles, sunglasses, sun hats, wading pools, spritz bottles or other items to help you cool down.
- Skip heavy foods, and opt for salads, sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables instead. Cook food in an outdoor barbeque or microwave. Avoid using heat-producing appliances like the stove, oven, dishwasher, and dryer to avoid generating extra heat. Even smaller appliances, such as laptops and toasters, are best unplugged.
- NEVER leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Temperatures can rise to 52°C (125°F) within 20 minutes in an enclosed vehicle when the outside temperature is 34°C (93°F). Leaving the car windows slightly open or "cracked" will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature.
Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illnesses
Review the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses so you can identify problems and seek aid.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion could include rashes, muscle cramps, dizziness or fainting, and headache. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should move to a cool place and drink water. Symptoms of heat stroke, which is considered a medical emergency, include a high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and lack of coordination. In these cases, call 911.
Here are a few ways to stay cool in the City when temperatures rise:
- Cool off in one of the City's spray parks.
- Book a session at Al Anderson Memorial Pool.
- Visit the City of Langley Library.
- In the morning or early evening, enjoy shaded areas in one of the City’s many parks.
- City Park (shade trees, covered picnic shelters, spray park, outdoor pool)
- Douglas Park (shade trees, picnic tables in the shade, spray park, drinking foundation)
- Brydon Park (benches in shade, shade trees, drinking foundation)
- Nicholas Park (shade trees, spray park, drinking foundation)
- Sendall Gardens (shade trees and benches)
- Portage Park (shade trees, covered picnic area, benches in shade)
- Rotary Park trees (trees)
- Conder Park (picnic tables and benches in shade)
- Penzer Park (drinking foundation)
- Hunter (benches in shade)
- Sendall Gardens (shade trees, benches and picnic table in shade)
- Uplands Dog Off-Leash Park (shade trees, drinking foundation)
- Iris Mooney Park (shade trees)
- Nicomekl Trail has several areas covered by trees, the nature trail weaves its way through a canopied area and benches
- Nearby Regional Parks with shade include:
When the Province of BC issues an Extreme Heat Emergency
Temperatures are expected to be dangerously hot and pose a significant risk to human life and health, particularly for older adults.
Please help keep our community safe by checking-in on friends, family, and neighbours, particularly if they are elderly and/or living alone.
High temperatures inside your home pose the greatest risk during an extreme heat emergency.
Find air-conditioned public spaces and spray parks in Langley where you can cool off when it’s hot.
Community & Recreation Centres
- Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre - 27032 Fraser Highway
- George Preston Recreation Centre – 20699 42 Avenue
- Timms Community Centre – 20399 Douglas Crescent
- W.C. Blair Recreation Centre – 22200 Fraser Highway
- Walnut Grove Community Centre – 8889 Walnut Grove Drive
Fraser Valley Regional Libraries
- Aldergrove Library – 26770 29 Avenue
- Brookswood Library – 20045 40 Avenue
- City of Langley Library – 20399 Douglas Crescent
- Dean Drysdale Library – 8889 Walnut Grove Drive
- Fort Langley Library – 9167 Glover Road
- Muriel Arnason Library – #130 – 20338 65 Avenue
- Murrayville Library - #100 – 22071 48 Avenue
Spray Parks
- Brookswood Park – 40 Avenue & 200 Street
- City Park – 49A Avenue & 207 Street
- Douglas Park – Douglas Crescent & 206 Street
- Murrayville Outdoor Activity Park - 48A Avenue & 221 Street
- Phillip Jackman Park – 32 Avenue & 271 Street
- Willoughby Community Park – 7700 block 202A Street
- Walnut Grove Community Park – 89 Avenue & Walnut Grove Drive
- Nicholas Park, 208 Street & 50 A Avenue
Opening dates and hours vary by location.
Additional tips to keep cool
- Close blinds and shutters during the daytime and open them at night. Open your windows at night to let in cooler air. Install or use curtains and blinds to help block sunlight and reduce indoor heat. Light-coloured curtains can reflect the sun. Those with south- or west-facing windows can use reflectors which deflect sunlight.
- Cool showers and misting yourself and your clothing with cool water will help keep you from overheating. If you have air conditioning, use it to take the edge off indoor heat, but don’t over-cool. If you have friends or family without A/C and room to spare, consider inviting them to sleep over. Check-in with friends, family and neighbours, particularly those who are elderly, socially isolated, or those who have mobility challenges as they may be less able to prepare themselves and their homes. Develop a buddy system and check in with your buddy frequently, especially in the evening and early morning.
- If you don’t have air-conditioning, take note of the amount of sunlight your home receives at different times of the day, so you know which rooms get the most heat buildup. Shelter in the coolest room in your home and use a fan. Since heat rises, the ground floor or basement are usually cooler spots in the house. Indoor hammocks or the living room couch might be better spots to sleep until temperatures cool down. Keep a pitcher or bottles of water chilling in the fridge and make sure you have ice cubes and ice packs ready to go. Blowing a fan across a pan of ice water can create a cool breeze.
- Go to malls, movie theatres, coffee shops, and restaurants to get out of the heat.
- If you work from home, arrange to work in the air-conditioned office during the hottest days.
- Metro Vancouver also monitors the latest air quality and weather data from 31 stations in the Lower Fraser Valley and publishes it at Airmap.ca and issues air quality advisories when the air gets bad. Sign up here to receive direct notifications.
For more information on how to stay safe in the heat, visit Fraser Health.