Extreme heat is becoming more common in New Brunswick, and for seniors and people living with chronic illnesses, the health risks can be serious.
To better understand these risks, MSSU researcher Dr. Sandra Magalhaes partnered with DataNB and the Government of New Brunswick to evaluate how the province’s Heat Alert and Response System (HARS) is working and where improvements could be made.
The challenge
Heat Alert and Response Systems are designed to notify communities during periods of extreme heat to help reduce health risks.
Researchers examined how heatwaves have affected health outcomes in New Brunswick and explored which conditions create the greatest risks.
In this study, heatwaves were defined as two or more consecutive days where temperatures exceeded 30°C and overnight temperatures remained above 18°C, or where the humidex reached 36 or more.
What the team found
The research found that extreme heat is linked to:
increased mortality
more hospitalizations
higher emergency department visits
The findings also confirmed that multiple days of high temperature and humidity pose the greatest risks for health issues.
Why it matters
Climate change is expected to increase the number of extremely hot days across the region. This first stage of research provides evidence to help inform how and when heat alerts are issued and lays the groundwork for future community engagement on preparedness and response.
“We are planning to share what we are doing and what we learn with a network we’ll create through the project. We also hope to learn from them.”
Dr. Sandra Magalhaes
What has changed
The findings from the project have helped inform discussions around adapting provincial heat alert protocols. By supporting the research and bringing together partners across sectors, MSSU helped contribute evidence to support future planning around extreme heat and public health.
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