In 1985, when few were thinking about climate change, Glenn Frey said it best – The Heat Is On. Forty years later, his hit song seems prophetic, and we need to act.
To help limit the impacts of extreme heat – such as the 619 premature deaths during record-breaking temperatures in British Columbia in 2021 – the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo, has published new easy-to-follow heat protection guidance. The guidance spells out what residents can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, with actions identified for both houses and apartments/condos.
The guidelines build on the Intact Centre’s report “Irreversible Extreme Heat: Protecting Canadians and Communities from a Lethal Future”, developed with over 60 national experts.
“The good news is that heat-related health impacts are preventable with knowledge, education, and action,” said Joanna Eyquem, who led the development of the guidelines. “While air conditioning is part of the solution, it is not a panacea. For example, we also need to plan to specifically check on vulnerable people during heat waves, such as the elderly or people living alone.”
Read more at University of Waterloo
Photo Credit: WebTechExperts via Pixabay