Iterative development and testing of a Heat Warning and Information System in Alberta, Canada

In 2012, consistent with Alberta’s climate change adaption framework, Alberta Health, the Provincial Government Department of Health, initiated a high-level vulnerability assessment that led to the development of a Heat Warning and Information System (HWIS) involving collaboration between several agencies with expertise outside of public health.

Starting in 2012, Alberta Health initiated a process to develop a HWIS based on two core principles:

1. Leveraging existing partnerships and networks: Alberta Health partnered with the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) and Health Canada (two federal departments), the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry (AF), and Alberta Health Services (local community level). Through these strategic partnerships, Alberta Health was able to access advice (e.g. epidemiological analyses) and infrastructure (e.g. climate forecasting systems) to design the roll-out of the HWIS.
2. Building on existing best practices and lessons learned: Alberta Health completed a survey, with the assistance of Health Canada and the MSC, of best practices and lessons learned relevant to the provincial context. The results of this survey fed directly into the development of both the structure of the HWIS (e.g. the thresholds), as well as the corresponding communication plan.