Beyond, The University of British Columbia, June 2024 (Reporter Carolyn Ali), 5 tips for staying cool at home without air conditioning
“In moderate heat, strategic use of shading and fans, and modifying your daily routines can help. Here are five tips from Dr. Baumbusch and other UBC experts on how to stay cool at home..”
City News Vancouver, May 10, 2024 (Reporter Cole Schisler), Sun, heat safety tips as Metro Vancouver gets early blast of summer
“I think we’re seeing the heat come sooner in the year and more intense throughout the summer, so it’s a really good time to just practice, make sure that you have all the things in place. If you are looking after someone who is at a distance, making sure you call and check in on them. If a person is starting to sound confused on the phone or unwell, try to get an in-person visit or … using emergency services to check on them.”
Global News, August 11, 2023 (Reporters: Elizabeth McSheffrey & Richard Zussman): With high heat incoming, fewer than 400 of BC’s free air conditioners have been installed
“It is a popular program, but it also is a program that is in its very early stages,” the spokesperson explained. “The numbers, the growth that you’ve seen over the last couple of weeks will not be the pace moving forward.”
The Ubyssey, July 28, 2023 (Reporter: Mia Ahmad): Stay Cool: tips to stay safe in the summer heat
“Baumbusch also spoke about the importance of creating a network where people are checking-in on one another. “If you have older family members who might be more susceptible during the heat or people who have chronic illnesses to make sure that you’re checking in on them. But I think we also have to realize there are young people and students on campus who have chronic illnesses and might be disabled and also need to be checked in on,” she said.“
Global/Chorus Radio, July 10, 2023 (Host: Ben O’Hara Byrne). Heat Waves (part of Taking a road trip all along 7700km of the Trans-Canada highway episode, minute 9).
Why strategies to cope with higher temperatures aren’t keeping pace with global warming
CBC News, March, 20, 2023 (Reporter: Michelle Gomez). Provincial funding programs should allow immediate family to be paid caregivers: advocates
“I think people are concerned about the vulnerability of the people receiving care … historically, I understand the rationale to have an arms-length employer-employee relationship.”
But Baumbusch says since the pandemic, the care-giving workforce has shrunk. In some situations, those looking to hire a professional caregiver won’t be able to find one.
CBC News, March, 5, 2023 (Reporter: Akshay Kulkarni): B.C. government review into providing ACs during heat wave still incomplete — 3 months past its deadline
“Air conditioners are a key strategy for saving people’s lives and keeping them well during heat events,” said Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of nursing, who works with older adults. “The majority of people who died during the heat dome were older adults, many were women, many were disabled, and many were also poor.”
Baumbusch says air conditioners are particularly relevant in B.C., after the panel found that many people died in smaller apartments without appropriate ventilation.”One of the challenges is for people to be able to have that amount of money upfront to pay for the air conditioner,” the professor said.
Green Technology Education Centre Canada Reader (Vol 3, Issue 3), September 2022 (Reporter: Bill Stovin): Urban Forests
“For Jennifer Baumbusch, a UBC Nursing professor whose health research focuses on older adults, tree canopy is important but is more of a long term goal.
“I think it can also distract from what needs to be done now. Last year we had over 600 people die due to the heat. What are we doing while these tree canopies are growing?”
CTV News Vancouver, August 18, 2022 (Reporter: Penny Daflos): Sustained high heat has BC official urging public to ‘preserve the ambulances
“The government has never addressed or responded to the many requests from people to add air conditioners as medical equipment,” said UBC nursing professor Jennifer Baumbush.
We know who needs them in the province … the issue is political will of our government to make this essential piece of equipment available to people who need it.”
Glacier Media, July 29, 2022, (Reporter: Stefan Labbe): How BC paramedics treat heat illness just changed – so why isn’t the public being told?
“When we look at the infographics that are out, it really starts with the least invasive interventions, and kind of at the bottom, it’s almost like a little footnote, that, ‘get yourself into the really cold bath if you’re experiencing severe heat-related illness,” she said.”
Briarpatch, June 20, 2022 (Reporter: Astra Lincoln): B.C.’s climate adaptation disability crisis
“There was some confusion last year, like, who’s responsible for this?” says Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch. Baumbusch is a registered nurse and associate professor at UBC who researches disability. So far, no one has been held accountable. Of the 18 action items sent by agencies, five delegate responsibility to other agencies and institutions; three downloaded responsibility onto individuals, and four intended to create better messaging campaigns to inform citizens of those responsibilities.
Burnaby Beacon, June 24, 2022 (Reporter: Curtis Seufert): Burnaby’s heat response plan is a start, but health and climate experts want more.
“The number of cooling centres is totally inadequate for a city of [that] size,” said Jennifer Baumbusch, UBC’s master of health leadership and policy program director. “That was one of the issues last year, and it sounds like it’s going to continue to be an issue this year.“
Black Press Media, June 21, 2022 (Reporter: Sarah O’Leary): Flooding, wildfire emergency plans need to better consider seniors, disabled people: BC expert
“A combination of disability, low mobility and poverty can leave people in dangerous situations, especially during emergencies like wildfires and floods, University of B.C. nursing professor Jennifer Baumbusch told Black Press Media.”
CTV Vancouver, May 20, 2022 (Reporter: Kendra Mangione & Tahmina Aziz). Air conditioning coming soon: cooling to be mandatory in new homes in Vancouver
“People want to know what’s happening this summer. What help is coming this summer? What’s being done to prepare for what we know is coming this summer with another heat dome potentially or heat waves?” she said. “I think there’s an urgency here that’s not being addressed.”
The Vancouver Sun, February 26, 2022 (Reporter: Susan Lazaruk): The 434 in Metro Vancouver who died in heat dome mostly elderly, poor, isolated, female.
The findings are “not at all” surprising, said a UBC associate professor of nursing, Jennifer Baumbusch.
“When the heat dome happened, older people, low-income people, would have less access to air conditioning and be less able to get to cooling centres,” she said.
She said advice to get outside during such an extreme weather event “is way outside of many people’s physical ability.”
CTV News Channel, August 12, 2021 (Anchor: Marella Fernandes): BC Heat Wave
CBC White Coat, Black Art, July 25, 2021 (Host: Brian Goldman and team): To prepare for future heat waves, classify air conditioners as medical devices, UBC expert says.
“The communications, at least that I saw, were more things like: ‘Make sure you drink lots of water, make sure you try and stay cool.’ But there was no way for citizens to anticipate what this would feel like,” she said.
“I don’t think we ever kind of got to that stage of messaging or understanding [on] who you could reach out to [in] an emergency. There was no one. You were on your own.”
July 6, 2021, CTV News Vancouver (Reporter: Penny Daflos): Heat wave deaths in Fraser Health nearly double compared to B.C. average
“It’s shocking to know the numbers and how unprepared we were as a system to be able to provide supports,” said Baumbusch. “Our hearts go out to the family we’ve been working with“