Kamloops residents head to the beach to cool off, Summer 2021 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2021 HEAT DOME

Seventeen of B.C. heat dome deaths in Kamloops; committee formed to address heat issues for seniors

Jun 7, 2022 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — The B.C. Coroner’s Service has released a review of heat-related deaths in the province during the summer of 2021. A panel of experts has identified shortfalls and has made the following recommendations as key areas in preventing deaths during future extreme heat events in B.C.: a co-ordinated heat alert response system and identifying and supporting vulnerable populations.

The review panel investigated more than 800 deaths during last year’s heat dome, attributing 619 of them to the heat. Of those deaths, 17 were in Kamloops and the surrounding area.

While the province is moving ahead with expanding the Alert Ready system, the B.C. Coroner’s Chief Medical Officer spoke to the recommendation of changes to the building code and cooling requirements.

“We historically live in an area where we worry more about (a lack of) heat, and we worry about keeping the heat inside the building. Now, that is kind of biting us.Essentially we need to turn around the way we look at things to make sure we are able to cool our buildings effectively as well as heat them up,” said Dr. Jatinder Baidwin.

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As that’s not an immediate fix, the panel’s recommendations note identifying and supporting populations most at risk. Two-thirds of those who died during the heat dome were 70 years of age or older.

“You have to identify people who are vulnerable, people who are at risk. And then you have to ensure that they have adequate ability to use cooling, either at the place they live or if you can’t manage that, you have to take them somewhere else where they can be cooled. There will be some loss of personal autonomy if that happens, but on the balance of risk it’s probably the right thing to do,” added Baidwin.

Locally, multiple Kamloops agencies have come together to form a committee focused on addressing heat-related issues for seniors. One idea is better use of existing infrastructure such as cooling centres, though they only go so far during extreme events.

“When the ambient heat in somebody’s house can’t be lowered below a certain point in the evening… we are going to have to create some sort of evacuation plan for people so we can physically remove them from those situations and put them somewhere. That’s a big plan, and that is a lot of planing involved in that. We need to do more research,” said Brandi Allen, Centre for Seniors Information Executive Director.

While the centre is advocating for seniors, the biggest problem is getting seniors to reach out and make initial contact with those trying to help.

“You can’t help anybody when you don’t know they exist. We talk about that all the time with all the services and programs that are available in Kamloops through our organization and many others. I hope this reaches seniors who are living in isolation or living alone and don’t have those supports in place,” said Allen.

The Centre for Seniors Information has a list of seniors to call and check up on, but Allen admitted currently, the list is far too short.