The 2021 heat dome hit British Columbia with (1) daytime and overnight temperatures far higher than ever experienced before, (2) early in the summer, (3) over a weekend, (4) during peak daylight hours, and (5) following 18 months of a global pandemic. The effects were catastrophic, including hundreds of sudden and unexpected deaths in private residences. This talk will review what we have learned so far about mortality during the heat dome, current evidence gaps, and ideas for protecting population health during future extreme heat events.
Sarah Henderson
Scientific Director, Environmental Health Services
BC Centre for Disease Control