Don’t have AC? How to stay cool in the looming heat wave

With many parts of Canada entering a 'prolonged heat event' on Monday, many will be asking whether it’s time to invest in an air conditioning unit.

With many parts of Canada entering a “prolonged heat event” on Monday, many will be asking whether it’s time to invest in an air conditioning unit.

But experts say even for those without AC, there are steps that can help them stay cool.

A large swath of Ontario and parts of Quebec are under a heat warning as “dangerously hot and humid” weather conditions are expected for most of the week, Environment Canada said.

Caroline Metz, managing director of climate resilience and health at the Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, said heat can have adverse effects on people’s health.

“It’s silent. It doesn’t come with a lot of drama. It doesn’t break things or damage things the way other natural weather events do, like floods or hurricanes. But heat is responsible for more illnesses and deaths than most other extreme weather events combined,” she said.

And the risk doesn’t only come from being outdoors.

Metz said of the 617 deaths caused by the 2021 B.C. heat dome, 97 per cent occurred indoors. She said 98 per cent of the fatalities were of seniors, half of whom lived alone.

While there are mechanical means of cooling, such as using air conditioning, there are passive cooling measures too.