The BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, related to an existing medical condition that was aggravated by wildfire smoke. The child died from severa asthma attacked made worse by wildfire smoke in the area.
The sudden and unexpected death of this young boy is a heartbreaking loss for his family and community, the provincial government said in a statement. “As the province experiences greater impacts from the effects of climate change, British Columbians are learning more about the risks associated with wildfire smoke, extreme heat and other environmental factors. This greater awareness can help us respond when risks are identified.”
The tragic loss of life during the 2021 heat dome resulted in far greater public awareness of the potentially fatal impacts of extreme heat, and the Province has cautioned that smoke from wildfires is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, older people, and infants and young children.
The best ways to protect from the impacts of the smoke are to reduce exposure by:
staying indoors with windows closed;
keeping windows closed and air conditioning on when driving;
reducing time spent outdoors and avoiding rigorous outdoor exercise;
using high-quality, portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration to remove smoke particles from indoor air; and
visiting places with controlled air supply, such as shopping malls, swimming pools or public libraries.
