It has been a cooler than usual start to summer across much of the province, but British Columbians are being warned to prepare for hot days ahead, and to be especially aware when extreme heat is in the forecast.
Extreme heat can have devastating consequences, as seen during the heat dome in 2021. An estimated 619 people died in June and July of that year due to record-high temperatures.
According to updated data from the BC Coroners Service, there were 11 suspected heat-related deaths in the province in 2023, with all the deaths occurring between May and August. Five of the deaths were in the Interior Health region. The data also shows that approximately two-thirds of the deaths were among people over the age of 60, and males accounted for nearly three-quarters of the heat-related deaths.
According to the BCCS, most of the 619 people who died in 2021 were older adults who lived alone and had at least one underlying health condition. The BCCS death review panel noted that the “majority of those who died lacked access to cooling or ventilation.”
A 2023 Statistics Canada report into the prevalence of household air conditioning across Canada showed that while six in 10 Canadians have access to air conditioning in their homes, only 32 per cent of British Columbians do. In Ontario, 85 per cent of residents have household air conditioning.
Air conditioner use in B.C. varies widely, with 84 per cent of households in Kelowna having air conditioning; a rate that drops to 26 per cent in Vancouver and 19 per cent in Victoria.
Last year the province announced a program to provide free air conditioning units to qualifying British Columbians. The income-based program was launched with $10 million to provide 6,000 units, but in May 2024 the province added another $20 million in funding to provide an additional 19,000 units.
In the event of unusually high temperatures, people should check in on family, friends, and neighbours, especially those who are elderly and/or live alone. If they (or you) do not have household air conditioning, check with your local government to see if there is a cooling centre in your community, or visit places that have air conditioning, such as libraries or community centres.
Stay hydrated, and avoid physical activities outside, particularly when the sun is at its height. Never leave children or pets alone in a parked car, even if the vehicle is in the shade or has the windows cracked. In hot weather, it takes only minutes for the interior of a car to reach heat levels that can be lethal.
