An excellent article from Dr. Scott Maclean, assistant clinical professor in the UofA Department of Emergency Medicine and practicing emergency department physician, Dr. Elaine Hyshka, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Health Systems Innovation at the UofA’s School of Public Health, and Dr. Kathryn Dong, associate professor with the UofA’s Department of Emergency Medicine and an addiction medicine physician.
Edmonton leads the world in frostbite cases, not because our weather is special in any way, but because of our poor healthcare response and the way we (mis)treat our unhoused population.
40% of all frostbite cases in Edmonton and Calgary were due to homelessness, the first spikes occurring in milder temperatures (warmer than -20°C when cold weather response is not activated in Edmonton), and the second spike occurring in deep cold (colder than -35°C), corresponding to police encampment raids and the growth of people living unsheltered or in temporary shelters.
During the coldest months in winter, the Edmonton Police Service priority has been to confiscate tents, clothing, and other supplies needed for human survival, because unhoused (primarily Indigenous) people aren't allowed to own things. If you need to use a homeless shelter then you're allowed to own even less.
Our emergency response isn't funded to support a vulnerable population, not activating until we have -20°C windchill for 3 days (compare that to Vancouver which activates at 0°C). This is absolutely inadequate for people who cannot get in out of the cold whenever they want and can't afford expedition-level clothing, EVEN IF they were allowed to keep it.
Over 150 people were admitted last winter for immediate treatment of severe frostbite, which could involve surgery 6 months later for those who require amputations. If an unhoused person undergoes a permanently disabling amputation, it makes it so much harder for them to get off the street and find housing.
As a childhood frostbite survivor myself, I'll also note that getting frostbite makes you much more susceptible to it in the future. You will always be more sensitive to frostbite, and require greater care.
Edmonton's approach to the needs of unhoused residents is absolutely cruel and callous, and is driven by divisive politics, fear-mongering, and hate-mongering which we saw so much of during this recent municipal election, where a million-dollar developer-funded political party was campaigning in Edmonton suburbs on "cracking down" on downtown, which is code for removing Indigenous and unhoused populations whom they have painted as the cause of crime and the hindrance to "safe streets" and "open community".
And of course the one (remaining) member of said party who got elected (one lost the election after misplaced votes were found on recount, the other has since left party affiliation), was a former President of the Edmonton Police Union, who vehemently fought against community-based protests and efforts towards anti-racism (including #BLM) and police accountability, claiming to have been the "victim" of these "heinous" movements, for which he targeted journalists and city council (of which he is now a member of). Thankfully he is only one voice on council, but he represents all the hateful elements which this city needs to recover from.
We pride ourselves on being a "winter city", yet there is so much hate and animosity towards any who use the outdoors for basic needs, from living outdoors in homelessness, to commuting outdoors through active transportation. We will never be a real winter city unless we support people to get out of their heated homes and automobiles for more than just "quick recreation".
https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-lets-drop-edmontons-dubious-title-as-frostbite-capital
#abpoli #cdnpoli #yeg #yyc #humanrights #acab #racism #urbanism
