A nine-year-old B.C.boy who died from asthma exacerbated by wildfire smoke is B次元官网网址渢he face of the climate crisis in Canada right now,B次元官网网址� the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) said on Tuesday.

The groupB次元官网网址檚 president, Dr. Melissa Lem, said Carter VighB次元官网网址檚 death underscores the urgent need to better protect vulnerable people from the effects of wildfires and other climate change-driven emergencies B次元官网网址� as well as pick up the pace of tackling climate change itself.

B次元官网网址淲hat CarterB次元官网网址檚 story tells me is that we are woefully unprepared for the health impacts of climate change as a society and in the health-care system,B次元官网网址� Lem told The Canadian Press.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a moral imperative for governments to end our dependence on fossil fuels before more kids like Carter die,B次元官网网址� she said.

Burning fossil fuels leads to climate change, which in turn can trigger wildfires, as well as create other air pollution, Lem said.

CarterB次元官网网址檚 aunt, Anamaria Vigh, said on Facebook that the boy from 100 Mile House, B.C., died from asthma last week in hospital.

On Monday, the B.C. CoronerB次元官网网址檚 office posted a public safety bulletin confirming it is investigating CarterB次元官网网址檚 death.

B次元官网网址淭he sudden and unexpected death of this young boy is a heartbreaking loss for his family and community,B次元官网网址� the bulletin said.

B次元官网网址淎s 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,B次元官网网址� it said.

Whenever wildfire smoke starts appearing, Lem B次元官网网址� who is also a family doctor in Vancouver B次元官网网址� sees a rise in patients suffering from asthma and sore throats.

More severe asthma attacks, as well as other respiratory diseases and heart problems, end up in the emergency department, she said.

The B.C. CoronerB次元官网网址檚 bulletin also said that smoke from wildfires is especially dangerous for children, older people and those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions.

There are some precautions that people can take to minimize their exposure to wildfire smoke, the bulletin said, including staying inside with windows closed and using B次元官网网址渉igh-quality portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration to remove smoke particles from indoor air.B次元官网网址�

The coronerB次元官网网址檚 office also recommended keeping windows closed and air conditioning on in cars, as well as taking refuge in B次元官网网址減laces with controlled air supply,B次元官网网址� including shopping malls or public libraries.

Lem said CarterB次元官网网址檚 death is B次元官网网址渆very parentB次元官网网址檚 and every doctorB次元官网网址檚 worst nightmare.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e have to sprint as fast as we can to both adapt to the effects of climate change (by) protecting people from the effects of wildfire, smoke and heat,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淎t the same time, (we have to) sprint to mitigate climate change by reducing our use of and expansion of fossil fuels as quickly as we can.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

READ ALSO: