Geomap Project
Accidental Deaths In Canada And B.C.
Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2018). Within British Columbia, accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15-64 and are more prevalent among young men (BC Vital Statistics Agency, 2015). In 2010, accidents killed 15, 866 Canadians and it is estimated that the number of deaths caused by accidents will increase to 26,390 a year by 2035 (Parachute, 2015). The three leading causes of accidental deaths are falls, motor vehicle incidents, and poisonings (Parachute, 2015).
Our Community – The Kootenay Boundary
The Kootenay Boundary region is located in the southeastern interior of British Columbia. Despite only covering 30,198 of the 994,735 square kilometres (~3.o%) of the province of British Columbia, this region has some of the highest rates of accidental deaths. Reports have revealed that the Interior Health Region, which encompasses the Kootenay Boundary, has some of the highest rates of:
- 30% Motor vehicle incidents causing fatalities (ICBC, 2017)
- 37% Recreational deaths due to ATV accidents (BC Coroners Service, 2016)
- 57% Winter activity deaths (e.g., snowmobiling, skiing; BC Coroners Service, 2017)
- 57% Winter activity deaths (e.g., snowmobiling, skiing; BC Coroners Service, 2017)
The high density of accidental deaths in the Interior Health region makes the Kootenay Boundary an area we need to examine so that we can develop effective interventions designed to decrease accidental deaths.
The Gap
Currently, there is no comprehensive geographical information systems analysis of accidental deaths in the Kootenay Boundary of British Columbia. It is important to examine this area to determine if there are any patterns, hotspots and modifiable risk factors. With this knowledge, we can highlight the most important areas to perform more in-depth investigations and to develop safety interventions to reduce accidental deaths.
Our Goal & Purpose
To better understand accidental deaths within the Kootenay Boundary we want to answer the following questions:
- Where are people dying as a result of accidental deaths in the Kootenays?
- Why are people dying as a result of accidental deaths in the Kootenays?
- Are there any factors that could have prevented these deaths?
- What interventions can we create to reduce mortality in the Kootenay Boundary?
The KERPA Geomap
KERPA wanted to start addressing this gap and has launched the first Accidental Death Geomap in the Kootenays. The data for this project has been found through publicly available internet searches. We have also collaborated with students from Selkirk College who are assisting with data collection and background research. This map is a work in progress and there is still more data to be added.
Click on the map below to visit our interactive Accidental Death Geomap
