As a result of temperatures pushing well above 30, the City of Prince George partnered with two downtown organizations – the Central Interior Native Health Society and the POUNDS Project – to open cooling centres.
Allie Pichette, the POUNDS Project’s Operations Manager, said the first day they opened as a cooling centre, around 90 people stopped in – nearly double what they would see on a normal day.
She estimated about 90% of them were homeless.
Part of this can be attributed to the centre being open for longer hours – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm rather than two four-hour shifts – thanks to cooling centre funding from the city.
“The city has been amazing,” Pichette said. “They funded us to be able to do this and provided us with cool treats, waters, snacks, all that stuff.”
POUNDS, an overdose prevention site, is typically busy in the summer months regardless.
“We monitor people while they come in and use, we have a drug checking program, and we do outreach,” Pichette said. “People are passing out on the sidewalk and are out there for hours in the scorching heat getting heat stroke.”
Alex Mcknight, the Safe Inhalation Manager, explained a team of people have been handing out drinks, sunscreen, and other gear to homeless people in Prince George during these hot days.
Pichette described the combination of heat and toxic drugs as “nerve wracking,” explaining the benzodiazepines in the drugs “prolong sedation. Mixed with the heat, it can end up being lethal. Our overdose rates have gone up extremely since this heat has come.”
“We have people coming in with heat exhaustion, sometimes you are watching someone and don’t know if they are exhausted from the heat or overdosing,” Mcknight added. “The symptoms of both are so similar. There is so much more risk with the heat.”
The two said anyone interested in learning more about the work done at POUNDS is welcome to come to their 3rd Avenue location to check it out, ask questions, volunteer, and of course cool down.
They added donations are always welcome, especially snacks which are not in the budget. Freezies have been extra popular recently.
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