We recently marked the 5th anniversary of the extreme heat event that claimed 619 lives across BC, 117 in Vancouver alone. It was an awful week and I’m sure we all have our own stories about the challenges we, our families and our patients endured.
Since then, the heat dome deaths were reviewed along with factors in the health and civic systems that played a role in the high mortality.
The BC Coroner’s report identified common attributes of those who died: they were generally older (70+), more than half lived alone, and a majority lived in materially or socially deprived neighbourhoods. Medically, those who died were more likely to have schizophrenia, mood or anxiety disorders, dementia, substance use disorder, COPD or asthma than the average BC population.
The report highlights a lag between heat alerts and the public response. It also notes that EHS (Emergency Health Services) faced double the usual number of 911 calls and so ambulances were not always immediately available.
Three key areas were identified to reduce deaths in a future heat dome event: A coordinated provincial heat alert response system, identifying and supporting vulnerable populations during extreme heat events, and implementing prevention and risk reduction strategies.
Some positive changes have occurred to address those key areas, and I’ve collected some further reading to help our community increase their knowledge:
- BCCDC 3-colour heat warning system
- Infographics on symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke
- Cooling centres map
- BC Hydro Free Air Conditioner Program
While the root cause of climate change and extreme heat – the burning of fossil fuels – ultimately needs to be addressed in a more assertive and resolute way at least we have more tools to help reduce the tragic consequences of the 2021 heat dome. Hopefully with a combined strategy of mitigation and adaptation future heat events will be less lethal.