On Tuesday June 18th, LMNHS staff attended the Midtown Service Providers Network event on Climate Emergency Preparation at Mount Pleasant Community Centre.  

Many agencies were in attendance and all with one common goal: how to prepare for climate emergencies. Agencies that attended include the Men’s Shed, Kits Neighborhood House, West Side Seniors, Vector Church, Canadian Mental Health Association and the Vancouver Fire Rescue.   

The event had 3 speakers- Meghan from Vancouver Coastal Health, Miranda from the City of Vancouver, and Andrea from Marpole-Oakridge Family Place.  

Megan began the event by defining extreme heat, which is, “hotter than normal temperatures for a long time”. She also mentioned that the heat dome is one of the leading causes of illness and death due to climate-related events. 619 people died in 2021. Therefore, we should be wary of indoor temperatures. However, indoor temperature is not the only risk-factor we should consider. People who are most at-risk are often elderly, live alone and/or have pre-existing health conditions.  

Meghan continued her presentation by reminding us of the dangers of wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of different pollutants that can cause respiratory issues and can increase the risk of infections. It is recommended you stay inside during cases of wildfire smoke and monitor the air quality index.  

Lastly, Meghan stated that other climate emergencies include incidents of flooding, drought, and winter storms. However, as summer is approaching, it is best to hone in on heat preparedness.  

The second speaker, Miranda Myles, did an excellent job of informing people on the specific city-delivered supports that exist all around Vancouver. To beat the heat, Miranda recommends heading to misting stations, cooling centers and spray parks. You can also beat the heat right from your home with cool kits. You can make your own by simply grabbing a small tote, towel, spray bottle, water bottle, gel compress and thermometer. Check out how to make and use a Cool Kit here.  

To ensure your health and safety during instances of wildfire smoke, Miranda recommends making your own DIY Air Cleaner.  

 The final speaker, Andrea, presented the My Life Kit created by staff at the Marpole-Oakridge Family Place. The My Life Kit was designed for seniors, people with chronic illness and/or those who live alone. The goal of the My Life Kit is so that first responders know they can access the patient’s medical details as they are on the fridge door.  More information about this kit can be found on the Marpole-Oakridge Family Place website.  

The meeting served to increase our knowledge on emergency preparedness during climate events, to learn of resources to inform and educate our community members and allowed us to connect with other Agencies. The next MSPN meeting will be held in September.  

As Agencies working in the Little Mount, RP, MP neigh, we are collaborating and sharing resources to have an integrated community mobilization capacity.