[Sheba]

The 434 in Metro Vancouver who died in heat dome mostly elderly, poor, isolated, female

The number of deaths in Metro Vancouver blamed on last summer’s heat dome, when temperatures soared to over 35 degrees for six days, was 440 per cent higher than the usual number of weather deaths in an average summer, according to a study.

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The study found those “materially and socially deprived” made up 28.1 per cent of the heat dome deaths, double that of typical weather deaths in other years, and 6.2 per cent of the heat dome deaths were in the “materially and socially privileged” groups, about half the proportion of typical weather deaths.

And researchers said while more research is necessary, the study indicates that the number of deaths was highest in areas where residences had little “greenness” within 100 metres of their buildings and weren’t close to major roads and large bodies of water.

They said proximity to “urban heat islands” with little trees or parkland were “associated with increased risks.”

“That’s kind of interesting because it is another kind of thing you can do in the future to reduce the risk (for vulnerable residents),” said Brauer, meaning planting more trees, not cutting down as many trees and incorporating vegetation in design of neighbourhoods and buildings.

“Increasing local green space in neighbourhoods with little air conditioning may help to save lives during hot weather,” said the report.

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