Experts say the new policy can save lives in the next heat dome, but so can the community.

She died in the arms of a firefighter.

A 96-year-old woman, in memory ofCoquitlam Fire Departmentchief Jim Ogrov, against vulnerable residents of British Columbia last summerHeat Dome Disaster.

"She was old and she was clearly in a lot of pain," Ogrov said, and the efforts of police officers who attended an emergency call to a women's townhouse in late June 2021. I remembered.

"They tried to cool her ... they couldn't carry her because she was in such a frail form," he said, and she was in the hospital. Her woman died before being taken to. She was one of more than 600 people who died in BC. With a weekly heat wave of historic size.

Read more: As the heat wave heats up, experts warn against becoming an "air-conditioned society"

Their death heritage revisits heat warning systems and building standards. But the deaths of so many vulnerable and single inhabitants, like the women Ogrov's officers tried to save, also show an important role for social ties.

"We need a community. Let's say that," said Kim McGrail, a professor of population data at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health, who worked for BC Coroners. This month, the Service Death Review Panel released reports and recommendations on the fatal consequences of the fever dome. The

strategy should include both governmental institutions and the compassion of neighbors looking for each other to succeed. Officials and health and community experts agree.

"Pragmatism is paramount. At a press conference that released a report on the Death Review Panel, I think it's one of the things, said Dr. Jattinder Baidwan, Chief Medical Health Officer at BC Coroners Services.

In the last week of June 2021, when a high-pressure system trapped a hot blanket, temperatures exceeded 40 ° C in most of the state. State Air.

Most of the 619 victims identified in the death review were elderly or vulnerable people living alone in unaired buildings, it said. . 98% died indoors and most lived in socially or materially disadvantaged situations.

Human Rights, an international advocacy group investigating abuse around the world. -Watch said in a report in October 2021 that inadequate government support exacerbated the risk of people with disabilities and the elderly, contributed by the lack of a state thermal action plan. Unnecessary suffering and death.

Read more: Summer arrives in Canada and it can be extremely hot. How to be safe

In response to a disaster, the B.C. government announced a two-stage thermal response system this month, which includes public awareness and preparation programs, and emergency thermal alerts broadcast to mobile devices.

Alerts are sent via the National Alert Ready system already used to issue amber alerts and tsunami, mountain fire, and flood alerts. Mike. Minister of Public Security Fernworth.

The Death Review Board had three main recommendations. A coordinated thermal alert response system and emergency protocol. Highest risk of death in a hot emergency. Plans to identify, identify and support people. Implement long-term fever prevention and mitigation strategies.

This is the cooling of the house Includes a review of equipment rebate plans and changes to building codes to require cooling designs.

On Monday, the Government of British Columbia also announced a $ 513 million climate response and adaptation strategy to prepare and protect people and communities from wildfires and floods.

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Baidwan said last year's heat wave was not taken seriously enough by officials and individuals. .. "We are all guilty of that," he said.

Ogrov, who was also a member of the Death Judging Committee, is B. C. Recognizing the effects of heat waves, we are "going in the right direction."

Ogrov said 14 people died in Coquitlam due to an emergency.

He recalled an emergency response system that was stretched to near the limit, where the fire department received more than twice as many emergency calls as usual on the weekend of June.

Read more: Summer weather 2022: Canadian What can you expect this year?

"When resources are pulled out in an unprecedented and extreme way, some cracks begin to appear and you can see how they overwhelm the system," Ogloff said. Mr. says.

He said the emotional sacrifices of the rescuers were traumatic.

"It costs an incredible sacrifice to the first responder community because they know there are people in desperate need of help, but avoiding it is Not much, "he said.

"emphasizes the importance of first responder communities, police, fire and ambulances and how important it is for them all to work together as they are interrelated. I think, "says Ogloff.

He says the new emergency response system will make the state better. According to Mr. Ogrov, who said he believed, he was ready to face the dome of the next heat , what to do, and the danger of a heat emergency reach as many people as possible. There is a harmonious message.

Professor McGrail can only evaluate the effectiveness of the new preparatory plan until the next hot emergency. Said.

"It's hard to tell how much it got worse, but the fact that the coroner service identified more than 600 people who died as a direct result of the fever Dome We were surprised, "she said.

McGrail said the Death Review Board's report "has a lot of will and intent to make sure there is a clear plan for the response and ways to coordinate it."

According to the report, 67% of those who died were over 70 years old and 90% were over 60 years old.

McGrail said preparation plans need to focus on these places People are alive, aware of the dangers they are facing and contact their friends, neighbors and loved ones McGrail said he advised him to take it.

"You need to make sure you're checking in. Rally the community. I don't want to underestimate the ability to help each other. "

McGrail points out the importance of data analysis and identifies the areas of highest risk.

British Columbia's mayor, the Rowan Barge Poverty Reduction Union, said the state needs to secure access to a cooling center.

She said that some people couldn't leave the building at the cooling center during the heat dome due to mobility issues, and some people were COVID. -19 said he refused an outdoor adventure because of a pandemic.

She helps people go to a cooling center or secure a cool place to go to where they live by traveling for free in a hot emergency. Said.

"Shelter-like places (single room hotels), all of these places need air-conditioned space in the building for people to access, but not in the last heat. Waves. "

Death panel report by December We are urging the government to consider issuing cooling devices to people at risk. 1.

Barge suffering from type 1 diabetes said he was able to use his own air conditioning during the hot dome. Stated. But it was the support of her friends that helped her get over it.

She said the insulin she received through her pump weakened as it got hotter, her blood sugar spiked and she couldn't cool.

"I'm a renter and live in an unair-conditioned apartment. In fact, for a few days in the apartment I didn't know how sick I was," Barge said. increase. "It must have been in the 40's because it was just brutal."

"My brain was functioning and the brain fog was at a level I had never experienced at that time.

Due to her chronic illness and pandemic, Barge was trying to leave the crowd and public places.

In the end, she said her friend took her into a cool bath and took her to a place with her air conditioner.

We need to do more to prepare for the next emergency, Barge said.

"I really strongly believe that we are not doing enough. Even if there is a heat wave tomorrow or next week, we are ready and ready to actually take care of it. I don't think it's properly people's, "she said.

This report by Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2020.

© 2022 The Canadian Press