Extreme heat: prescription air conditioners in Toronto

She explains that in Ontario, low -income people can use these prescriptions to obtain funding for the installation of a refreshment device.

The vast majority of doctors and practitioners’ nurses ignore this possibilitysaid Dr. Green, who practices within the Unity Health Network. It is for this reason that she began to participate in ephemeral clinics in the neighborhood St. James Town, to toronto.

According to the city of Toronto (new window)to be able to obtain funding, patients must be beneficiaries of the Ontario at work or the Ontario program for supporting people with disabilities (POSPH). They must also have in hand a prescription which specifies that the air conditioner is necessary for medical reasons and that his absence could cause hospitalization or risks for life.

DRE Green says it has seen patients as part of two recent ephemeral clinics. A total of 42 prescriptions were distributed, she said. It expects to see other patients during a third clinic planned for mid-August.

These clinics are organized by the group Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW), as part of a project which directly aims at residents of St. James Town.

The group explains that with 19 housing laps, it is one of the most densely populated districts in Canada.

According to CREWin the summer of 2022, residents of these buildings recorded heat up to 31 degrees Celsius. These temperatures can last for periods of 2 or 3 days, which jeopardizes the health and well-being of people who live therehe writes.

DRE Green thinks, however, that despite efforts, some vulnerable people are difficult to join. It is for this reason that it campaigns for the establishment of a municipal regulations which would limit the maximum temperature to 26 degrees Celsius in the rental housing of Toronto.

Municipal officials are currently studying this issue and must submit their recommendations to the municipal council this fall.

With CBC information