British Columbia is experiencing very high temperatures over the next week, and the Cariboo region is no exception, but there are areas where someone can cool off.
Temperatures in Quesnel is set to reach a high of 36C by Tuesday (July 9) - with Williams Lake potentially having the same on that day as well. In 100 Mile House, temperatures are set to reach a high of 38C on Tuesday. Heat warnings are in place across the region.
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, as temperatures increase, people may feel "increased irritability, loss of concentration and ability to do mental tasks and a loss of ability to do skilled tasks or heavy work." Environment Canada states that risks are greater for seniors, people who live alone, people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease, people with mental issues such as schizophrenia depression and anxiety, people with substance use disorders and people with limited mobility - and advise people to watch for the effects of heat illness, like heavy sweating, rash, cramps, fainting, high body temperature and worsening of some health conditions.
In Williams Lake, several cooling spaces are available, such as the recreation centre's pool which also offers a fountain available to fill water bottles. In addition, there is the seniors activity centre at 176 4th Avenue, which offers water availability. There is also the Canadian Mental Health location at 35 - 2nd Avenue, which offers water bottles and opens as a drop-in area. The Salvation Army also has a drop-in center open in Williams Lake, with cold showers available as well as bottled water available on request. The Cariboo Friendship Society will remain open for the day for shelter clients to stay out of the heat, and the Women's Contact Society opens as a drop-in with water bottles available.
There is also a cooling space at Williams Lake First Nation at the Cwelcwélt Health Station, 2780 Indian Drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
In 100 Mile House, cooling centres include a spray park in Centennial Park, as well as the South Cariboo Recreation Centre. The City of Quesnel, meanwhile, in a news release, stated that they will establish a cooling centre at West Fraser Center if Environment Canada issues a Extreme Heat Alert Level 2 for the area. Quesnel does not have any sort of cooling centres at this time.
Environment Canada has also issued a heat warning for Kamloops, Barriere, Clearwater, Ashcroft and Cache Creek.
