With our summer months getting hotter here are some tips on dealing with higher than average
temperatures. For a map of cooling places around Langford, Colwood and View Royal, click here.
SPEND TIME IN A COOL PLACE. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER TO AVOID HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS.
Check in on Friends, Family and Neighbours – make sure they are staying cool and hydrated.
Keep Your Space Cool:
- close blinds and curtains to block the sun
- keep doors and windows closed between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm to trap cooler air inside
- open windows at night to let cool air in
- sleep in the coolest part of the residence
Dress For the Heat:
- wear loose-fitting, light, breathable clothing
Signs of Heat Exhaustion – move to a cool place and drink water:
- rapid breathing and heartbeat
- muscle cramps
- dark urine and decreased urination
- dizziness or fainting
- nausea or vomiting
- heavy sweating
- extreme thirst
- skin rash
- headache
Signs of Heat Stroke – Call 911 – Heat Stroke is a Medical Emergency. Move to a cool place or cool with water and fanning.
- high body temperature
- confusion or lack of coordination
- dizziness for fainting
- not sweating but very hot, red skin
Learn more at www.preparedbc.ca/extremeheat.
Did you know that during an emergency your neighbors are your first responders? Building relationships with your neighbours will help you cope during an emergency. Strong and connected neighbourhoods and communities are more resilient and recover more quickly following emergencies.
Here are some ways to connect as neighbours and become more prepared:
- Develop a neighbourhood map identifying a muster station as well as other information that could be useful during an emergency such as people with pets, specific skills, and resources. Also note who may require extra assistance.
- Learn together! For example, organize a first aid course for you and your neighbours, or take turns teaching skills you may have with others such as pruning trees or canning goods.
- Create a neighbourhood tool library of supplies you can share every day as well as during emergencies.
- Save money by bulk purchasing emergency supplies and kits together.
In the event of a major emergency, the City of Langford will open reception centres and group lodging facilities for people who have evacuated their homes and have nowhere else to go. If your home is safe to stay in, you have insurance that will cover your stay at a hotel, or you have family, friends, or neighbours you can stay with, then this should be your first course of action.
The Langford Emergency Support Services (ESS) Team is responsible for setting up Reception Centres at locations where evacuees are received, registered, and referred to depending on their needs. Group lodging facilities will have cots and blankets set up in large areas to accommodate evacuees for a longer period of time. Reception centres and group lodging sites will be set up in community halls, recreation centres, churches, gyms, and schools depending on the type of incident that has occurred. Reception centres are run by our local (ESS) volunteers. Information on reception centres and group lodging will be available on our social media channels in the event of an emergency.
- Eagle Ridge Community Centre – 1089 Langford Parkway
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 – 761 Station Avenue
- Crystal View Elementary – 2662 Silverstone Way
- Happy Valley Elementary – 3291 Happy Valley Road
- Lakewood Elementary – 2362 Setchfield Avenue
- Willway Elementary – 2939 Mt Wells Drive
- South Vancouver Island Rangers – 3498 Luxton Road
- Spencer Middle School – 1026 Goldstream Avenue
Stay Informed
In the event of an emergency, social media and West Shore Alert will play a key role in communicating updates to the public.
For emergency updates follow:
- Langford Fire Rescue on Twitter and Facebook
- EmergencyInfoBC on Twitter – active during Provincial emergencies
For helpful emergency preparedness tips and recovery information follow:
Sign up for West Shore Alert
In the event of a public safety incident, West Shore Alert will be used to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to residents who have registered. This information can help you and your family know what to do, where to go and what to expect. This notification system will send alerts for public safety incidents such as earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis or evacuation notices. On occasion you may receive a test notification to validate the system. Notifications will be received by: Home phone, cellphone, email, or text message. When a notification is issued, multiple attempts will be made for each telephone number you provided until you confirm receipt of the message. It is important to acknowledge that you have received the message. You will only receive notifications if you sign up for this service. If you choose not to sign up, information will still be made available through the City of Langford website, local media, and social media.
Click here to register your Alert account.
Disaster Response Routes
Disaster Response Routes (DRR) are roads and highways that are designated to be used solely by emergency services in the event of a declaration of a local or provincial state of emergency.
Disaster Response Routes in Langford run along the Trans-Canada Highway and Veterans Memorial Parkway. For more information, view the DRR Map for the Capital Region.
Emergency Evacuation Plans
City of Langford Emergency Evacuation Plan
Volunteer in your community
Volunteering with the City equips you with free training, valuable experience in public safety, and the opportunity to serve your community in an emergency. Well-trained, skilled volunteers play a vital role before, during, and after a crisis. Here’s how you can get involved:
ESS
Langford’s Emergency Social Services (ESS) team is responsible for providing short-term, basic emergency assistance to individuals evacuated from their homes due to an emergency or disaster.
We’re looking for community minded volunteers to join Langford’s Emergency Program’s ESS Team. Training is provided.
Currently, Langford’s ESS Volunteers are responsible for:
- opening and operating Reception Centres to aid people affected by a disaster providing a referral service to place evacuees in local lodging facilities
- providing registration and inquiry information to the Red Cross to help re-unite families
- providing food to victims, volunteers, and workers affected by the emergency
- arranging for distribution of basic clothing to those who require it
- providing personal services, such as counselling, and meeting special needs, as required
- planning for Group Lodging Facilities (shelters), as needed
If you would like to volunteer or require more information, please contact the emergency program office at 250.478.5510.
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