seek assistance or cooler environments. The majority of those who died lacked access to cooling or ventilation, and were often living in areas of higher material and social deprivation. Although deaths occurred over a seven-month period, in the majority of deaths, the injury event that contributed to the death was sustained during the extreme heat event. Figure 1: Heat-Related Deaths by Date of Death 234 250 200 150 100 50 2 0 <25-Jun 9 15 137 56 58 34 19 23 7 4 4 7 2 1 1 2 4 28-Jun 29-Jun 30-Jun 01-Jul 02-Jul 03-Jul 04-Jul 05-Jul 06-Jul 07-Jul 08-Jul 09-Jul 10-Jul >12-Jul Of the 619 heat-related deaths, 576 (93%) were injured during the week of June 25-July 1. The majority of injuries occurred on June 28 and June 29 which corresponds with the highest temperatures during the extreme heat event. In certain parts of the province, temperatures above 40°C were observed from
Figure 6 (Abbotsford) 40 35 93% of deaths in BC Heatdome had no air conditioning. -Air Conditioning -No Air Conditioning -Outdoors Temperature (Celsius) 15 19 Air Conditioning Based on information collected by coroners during their investigations, 46 (7%) decedents had air conditioning present in their residence (see Appendix 2, Table 11). Of those, 7 (15%) were on at the time of death but may have been in a different room or improperly used (i.e. blowing hot air). Fans Fans were used in 24% of residences; however, for 44% of decedents it was unknown if fans were in use (see Appendix 2, Table 12). Of those with fans in use, 70% had them on in the room where the deceased was found.
Figure 5: Heat-related deaths mapped by injury location Extreme Heat and Human Mortality: A Review of Heat-Related Deaths in B.C. in Summer 2021 A Report to the Chief Coroner of British Columbia The majority of those who died lacked access to cooling or ventilation, and were often living in areas of higher material and social deprivation.
Poor quality housing, homelessness, and overall deprivation are risk factors for increased mortality during extreme heat events (Kenny et al 2019; Kovats and Hajat, 2008). Urban tree canopy reduces surface temperatures by as much as 12°C (Schwaab et al, 2021). The urban heat island effect increases heat related mortality and morbity (Santamouris, 2020). 10% of Bcers don't live in social housing SROS or supportive housing Housing In almost all (98%) of the deaths, the heat injury occurred indoors in a residence. • 73% occurred in private residences (39% in multi-unit buildings and 34% in detached buildings); • 10% occurred in social housing, single room occupancy (SRO), or supportive housing; • 7% occurred in trailer homes, mobile homes, RVs, or campers; and • 7% occurred in senior or long-term care homes (see Appendix 2, Table 7). Living Situation More than half (56%) of decedents lived alone, 30% lived with spouse or family members; 8% lived in community or assisted living situations (i.e. group home, senior homes, long-term care homes); and 5% lived with unrelated friends or roommates (see Appendix 2, Table 8). Recent Activity Very few deaths were linked to physical activity in the heat. BCCS investigative notes found that 20 (3.2%) decedents were known to be recently active prior to their death. Activities included gardening, outdoor home maintenance/repairs, walking outdoors, hiking, or playing a sport.
Hope reporters & Voters ask every #vanpoli pol. if they will pass a law like NewWest in our #RenterMajority City
"It is now the landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure that at least one room in every rental unit is kept at or under 26 degrees Celsius between 8:00 PM & 8:00 AM"
#vanRE #HeatDeaths
