This mild summer weather may not seem likely to cause heat stroke, but there's still some summer left.
The City of Burnaby and Fraser Health are providing information for residents on how to avoid getting overheated in the summer months.
"We're planning for something a little more severe than we have seen," said Charmaigne Pflugrath, coordinator of the city's emergency program.
But she also pointed out that some warnings, such as not leaving children or dogs in vehicles - even with the windows partially down - are very important, even with the mild summer Burnaby has seen thus far.
"Never, never leave children or pets in closed vehicles," she said. "I cannot stress enough the importance of not leaving children and pets in cars."
On July 2, a puppy at the British Columbia Institute of Technology died after being left in a car for approximately three hours.
The city has several other tips for dealing with the heat during the summer months, according to Pflugrath.
Residents should drink plenty of cool, non-caffeinated beverages; they should wear a hat and lightcoloured, loose-fitting clothing in the heat. When it is hot out, residents should find a shady or cool spot to relax in; residents should go into community centres, pools, spray parks, libraries or malls for breaks from the heat during the day.
The city also recommends avoiding strenuous activities outside during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents should check in on elderly family and neighbours, who are at the highest risk of heat-related problems, and everyone should learn to recognize the signs of heatrelated illness.
Everyone should also make a plan to beat the heat - one that includes plenty of cool liquids.
But the most important thing is to use common sense and be cautious when it's hot out, Pflugrath said.
"Be smart, keep cool." And preventing heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses and problems isn't all serious business, she pointed out.
"We all know how fun it is to run through a sprinkler," Pflugrath added.
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