Lethbridge prepares for heat wave as group calls for provincial plan for hot days – Lethbridge | Globalnews.ca

Much of western Canada had spent the last summer under a long “heat dome” with soaring temperatures, friends of medicare Alberta’s provincial government wants to take action.

The group is calling on the UCP government to develop short-term crisis management and long-term risk mitigation strategies to combat extreme heat events, along with providing data to investigate potential heat-related deaths.

“Here in Alberta, we never acknowledged that this had happened, let alone reviewed our response,” said Chris Galway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “We’re seeing BC announce a public alert system and a public coordinated response provincially, and we don’t have that here at all.

“We’re leaving it to the municipalities here to make some ad-hoc plans.”

In response to Global News’ questions about extreme heat measures, Alberta Health noted a 12.2 percent increase in EMS’ operating budget this year to increase road ambulances and paramedics.

A statement from an Alberta Health spokesperson partially reads, “The Government of Alberta is fully committed to ensuring that our health system has the resources and resources during anticipated and unexpected public health events, such as extreme heat and weather conditions. capability.”

In Lethbridge, Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to reach the low to mid-30s early next week.

That means local groups are ramping up efforts to make sure no one is left behind.

“People who are experiencing homelessness or who are living in low-income situations are at greater risk because they do not have access to the resources they need,” said Cathy Christiansen, executive director of Alpha House.

Despite cooler days so far this year than last summer, Outreach members are facing a higher demand for their services.

“Very busy this year. Our population is four times what it was five years ago,” said Tracy Horvet, assistant director of mission operations at the Streets Alive mission.

“Every year we are seeing a dramatic increase of people on the street.”

The organization is preparing to do more work in the coming days.

“We go outside and spill water, sunscreen, snacks, juices—whatever we can to help,” Horvet said.