April 17th, 2024
The devastating effects of climate change can be seen around the world, and with an increase in extreme weather events, 2023 saw tens of thousands of individual's lives taken too soon, including 9-year-old Carter Vigh from 100 Mile House, BC.
With rising extreme weather fatalities, communities can be left vulnerable, especially individuals with respiratory issues. Better awareness and proactive measures are needed including improved response plans, improved infrastructure and monitoring, and access to cool spaces with clean air to prevent extreme weather and climate change-related deaths. In May, BC Lung will be visiting 100 Mile House to distribute air quality monitors to local households to improve accessibility of real-time air quality data.
Our very own Christopher Lam, President & CEO of the BC Lung Foundation, along with Amber Vigh, Carter Vigh's mother, were recently interviewed for an article on the effects of climate change on health. The article focuses on Amber's son, Carter Vigh and how the changing climate and wildfires ultimately caused his death.
See the full article here: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/04/climate-change-likely-killed-tens-of-thousands-of-people-in-2023/