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Staying Cool During Extreme Heat

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Keep safe during heat waves with ways to stay cool and find shade.

Learn how to identify and prevent heat-related illnesses to protect yourself and others.

July 19, 2024
Notice

Know the official warnings

Heat warning

A heat warning is when daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than usual, but are not getting hotter every day. The threshold is set by Environment Canada and is specific for our region.

A warning will be issued when conditions reach daytime temperatures of 33°C (91.4°F) and a nighttime low of 17 °C (62.6°F) followed by a forecast of 33°C (91.4°F) for the following daytime temperature.

Extreme heat emergency

An extreme heat emergency is when daytime and overnight temperatures increase above the warning threshold for 3 consecutive days or more.

Avoid heat-related illness

High heat can pose an immediate danger to your health, so do what you can to stay cool:

Drink water 

  • Stay hydrated with plenty of water and other fluids.
  • Drink water before you are thirsty.
  • Avoid things like alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you.

Dress for the weather

  • Wear lightweight, lightly coloured cotton clothing.
  • Wear long sleeves to protect from the sun.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Be aware of heat-related illness

  • Symptoms include thirst, dizziness, confusion, weakness and fainting or collapsing. See a full list of symptoms from Fraser Health.
  • Check yourself, family members, and neighbors.
  • Seek medical attention if sweating heavily, pale, cramping, fatigued, dizzy or having headaches/nausea.

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.

For medical attention

  • Phone 9-1-1 for emergencies
  • Phone 8-1-1 for health-related illnesses
  • Phone 2-1-1 to connect with other services

More tips

  • Wear sunscreen: Remember to reapply as needed.
  • Find shade: Parks with tree shade are a good option Stay out of the sun as much as possible.
  • Find shelter: Libraries, shopping malls, and recreation and community centres are cool places to take a break from the heat. 
  • Plan ahead: Knowing how to prepare for a heat wave ahead of time will help keep you safe during high heat.

Read more about how to prepare for heat season.

Extreme heat relief locations

The following City of Surrey facilities are available to anyone seeking relief from extreme heat.

View printable PDF of locations.

Cloverdale

Guildford

Fleetwood

Newton

South Surrey

Whalley/City Centre

*The City supports people who bring a pet when they come to recreation facilities to escape the heat. Pet owners must remain with their pet at all times, bring necessary supplies, and are encouraged to bring a crate to house their pet. All pets must either be on a leash or in a crate while in the facility.

Community cooling stations

Community partners host cooling stations and misting tents around Surrey. These are in addition to civic facilities and locations will be listed here when they are open.

Outdoor pools & beaches

These destinations and amenities provide a good way to cool off.

Review a list of water fountain locations in Surrey parks.

Visit any of our outdoor pools or Crescent Beach this summer to beat the heat:

  • Bear Creek Outdoor Pool
  • Kwantlen Outdoor Pool
  • Unwin Outdoor Pool 
  • Hjorth Road Outdoor Pool 
  • Holly Outdoor Pool
  • Greenaway Outdoor Pool
  • Port Kells Outdoor Pool
  • Sunnyside Outdoor Pool

Spray parks

Spray parks, when open, are located at: 

  • Bear Creek Park
  • Bridgeview Park
  • Cloverdale Athletic Park
  • Erma Stephenson Park
  • Fleetwood Park
  • Goldstone Park
  • Hawthorne Rotary Park
  • Hazelgrove Park
  • Newton Athletic Park
  • Unwin Park
  • South Surrey Athletic Park

Check in on others

While everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for the young, the elderly, those working or exercising in the heat, persons with chronic heart and lung conditions, persons with mental illness, people living alone, and people experiencing homelessness.

  • Check regularly on older people, and those who are unable to leave their homes, for signs of heat-related illness. Read the Emergency Preparedness Guide for Older Adults.
  • Ask whether people know how to prevent heat-related illness and are doing the same.
  • If others are unwell, move them to a cool shady spot, help them get hydrated, and call for medical assistance if appropriate.

Learn more about health checks from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health.

See more from the Government of Canada for specific at-risk groups:

Protecting pets

Hot weather also affects our pets. Leaving animals at home indoors is the safest option during a heat wave. Another good choice is taking them to an off-leash dog park with access to water or to one of the pet-friendly civic facilities listed above.

The temperature in a parked car can heat rapidly, so it’s extremely dangerous to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle. If you see an animal in distress, report it to the BC SPCA immediately.

The following dog off-leash areas have access to water: 

  • Blackie Spit (3136 McBride) 
  • Clayton (7011 188 St) 
  • Serpentine (12589 76 Ave) 
  • Freedom (15452 84 Ave) 
  • Kennedy (9058 Holt Rd) 
  • Panorama (12863 60 Ave) 
  • Wills Brook (2955 160 St) 
  • Fraser View (11210 159a St) 
  • Dogwood (13485 20 Ave) 
  • Bolivar (13290 115 Ave) 

Related information