Interior Health is urging people to be prepared and extremely cautious in the backcountry, with continued high and considerable avalanche danger forecasted in many areas of the B.C Interior. “Being caught in an avalanche is a life-threatening situation that has already claimed twelve lives in the Interior Health region this season,” said Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, medical health officer, Interior Health. “Avalanche Canada continues to forecast a dangerous snowpack. There have been more than double the number of avalanche fatalities compared to the previous season and we are only halfway through the season. We urge everyone thinking of venturing into the backcountry to check www.avalanche.ca and make conservative choices, avoid dangerous terrain, and consider delaying a backcountry trip until conditions are safer.” Avalanche Canada continues to monitor a deep, persistent slab avalanche problem for many areas across the Interior of B.C. This is causing very dangerous and highly unpredictable avalanche conditions. Avalanche Canada continues to encourage people to stay away from steep slopes and terrain, and to check: www.avalanche.ca for avalanche conditions and forecasts. “We are dealing with a complex and very tricky snowpack. A widespread weak layer exists near the base of the snowpack throughout the Interior and it’s been the cause of most of the fatal avalanche incidents this season,” said Ryan Buhler, forecast program supervisor, Avalanche Canada. “This layer is deep enough that we are unlikely to see clues of instability, like nearby avalanche activity, ‘whumpfing’ or cracking snow. The only way to minimize exposure is to select low angle, low consequence terrain and avoid areas where an avalanche could propagate widely. It’s likely that this widespread weak layer will persist for the remainder of the season.” Buhler added, “With sunny weather in the forecast, we are expecting the snowpack to become even less stable. We know sunny weather can create a false sense of security and lure people out into avalanche terrain, even though unstable conditions exist. Even 30 minutes of sun can have a significant impact on the snowpack at this time of year. ” Avalanche Canada urges backcountry users to exercise caution and make conservative, low-consequence choices if they decide to travel in avalanche terrain. Backcountry users should always check the avalanche forecast at: www.avalanche.ca/en/map and carry a transceiver, probe and shovel, and be trained to use them. Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, Interior Health Medical Health Office speaks about avalanche safety: Audio Clip 1 Audio Clip 2 Avalanche Canada expects these conditions to last for the remainder of the winter season in many areas and potentially into the summer season. They advise using extreme caution if venturing into the backcountry. Advice from Avalanche Canada: Avoid steep, shallow and rocky terrain features where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin. Everyone in a backcountry party needs the essential gear, such as a transceiver, shovel and probe, and the training to use them. Adopt a cautious mindset when in avalanche terrain. Be diligent about terrain choices. Sticking to slope angles of less than 30 degrees when in clearings, open trees and alpine terrain can help minimize risk. Slopes that previously avalanched this season have the capacity to produce additional large avalanches when reloaded with new snow. This means that knowing that a slope already had an avalanche on it does not mean that the slope is safe. Follow disciplined group decision-making, ensuring that each group member is engaged in terrain selection. Minimize exposure to overhead hazards, given that these avalanches can be remotely triggered and travel far in runout zones. Travel one at a time when exposed to avalanche terrain and regroup in safe spots well away from overhead hazards. Avoid exposure to terrain traps, such as gullies, cliffs and trees, to reduce the risk of being caught in an avalanche. Practise patience, avoid complacency and accept that you may need to manage this risk for weeks or months to come. Quick facts: During the past 10 years, approximately 73% of all Canadian avalanche fatalities have occurred in B.C. Approximately 85% of Avalanche Canada’s services are delivered in this province. Learn more: Avalanche Canada’s website PreparedBC’s avalanche safety guidance

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to unexpected physician vacancy. Starting Feb. 21 at 8 a.m. to Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital.  During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.   Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.   The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.  

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to unexpected limited nursing availability.  Starting Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. to Feb. 18 at 8 a.m. emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital.  During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.   Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.   The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.  

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert. View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts

For the ninth time, Interior Health has been named one of BC’s Top Employers. And, for the first time, Interior Health is a recipient of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People award. These special designations recognize employers across the country who lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. “I am incredibly proud of our employees and immensely grateful for their perseverance and unwavering commitment to care, even during these unprecedented and challenging times,” said Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO. “In every corner of our organization, teams have come together and supported one another, helped each other and never lost sight of our common goal: health and well-being for all.” In the 2023 Interior Health Top Employer video, Brown celebrates this incredible achievement, and employees from across the Interior region share why they choose to work at Interior Health. BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Top Employers for Young People awards are annual competitions that consider a variety of criteria such as diversity and inclusion, benefits, physical workplace, student/new graduate opportunities and training, recruitment and retention, employment standards, community involvement and more. These award achievements show that Interior Health has scored high in all areas. “Since I started my career at Interior Health, I have always felt supported to grow and be my best,” said Lauren Hristoski, corporate director, compensation & recruitment, Interior Health. “It’s our people and teams who make Interior Health a great place to work, and I feel fortunate to work for a BC Top Employer.” Interior Health is a large organization delivering health-care services and solutions that make a positive difference in the lives of everyone in the Interior region. All 215,000 square kilometres are located on the ancestral, unceded and traditional territories of the seven Interior region First Nations: Dãkelh Dené, St’át’imc, Syilx, Tŝilhqot’in, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Learn more about why Interior Health was chosen as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People in The Globe and Mail, Jan. 24 and as one of BC’s Top Employers in the Vancouver Sun, Feb. 14. See the complete award listing in the Interior Health feature section on Canada’s Top 100 Employers website. We invite any one interested in exploring career opportunities with Interior Health to visit Jobs.Interiorhealth.ca to view all current job postings.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert. View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts 

People in Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin are a step closer to having enhanced health care close to home as Interior Health has signed a contract for the construction of the Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) redevelopment project with the preferred proponent, Graham Design Builders LP. “Signing this contract is a major milestone in the Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment project,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Soon people will see shovels in the ground as the modernized and expanded hospital begins to take shape. With a new emergency department, mental-health unit and cancer department, the redeveloped CMH will be a gamechanger for decades to come.” The CMH redevelopment project includes an addition to the existing hospital as well as renovations to the existing facility. The addition will be three storeys, plus a basement, and approximately 9,300 square metres (100,100 square feet). The redevelopment will add 25 in-patient beds for a total of 53. People will have increased access to health-care services as the expanded hospital will include a new emergency department, medical/surgical in-patient unit and mental-health and substance-use in-patient unit as well as an expanded ambulatory care and oncology unit, maternity and women’s health unit and pharmacy. The hospital will also include administrative, educational and training spaces for the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine. Construction will happen in two phases. Phase 1, which includes the addition, will begin in spring 2023 and is expected to finish in fall 2026. Phase 2, which includes renovations to the existing hospital, will begin in fall 2026 and is scheduled to be complete in early 2029. The budget for the project is more than $366 million and will be shared by the Province and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District. Quotes: Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health – “There are many dedicated people at Interior Health who have been working in collaboration with Aboriginal, community and Regional Hospital District partners to bring this project to this important next step to enhance health services in the region. The much-anticipated Cariboo Memorial Hospital expansion will improve access to many types of health-care services for people in Williams Lake and throughout the Cariboo-Chilcotin.” Al Richmond, chair, Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District – “We are excited to see this significant milestone achieved for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment project. I express our gratitude to Minister Dix for delivering on his commitment to proceed with this greatly needed upgrade to a critical health-care facility. Along with the numerous other improvements to this critical facility, we are particularly pleased to see the increased number of care beds, a dedicated mental-health and substance-use unit, and space for UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. We are also excited to see the benefits that will come from the interfaith sacred space to support the traditional cultural and healing practices of Indigenous persons living in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.” A backgrounder follows.  Backgrounders Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment project   The redeveloped Cariboo Memorial Hospital will include the following features: A new emergency department with 23 treatment spaces, an increase of 12; two trauma treatment bays; a seclusion room; an ambulance carport and a separate public entrance. A new medical/surgical inpatient unit with 36 beds, an increase of 16. A new mental-health and substance-use inpatient unit with eight single-occupancy rooms and a patient seclusion room. An expanded ambulatory care and oncology unit with 16 renovated treatment spaces. An expanded maternity and women’s health unit with four single-occupancy rooms for maternity care, two nursery rooms and two women’s health beds in private rooms. The maternity area will allow parents to stay in the same room with their babies until they are ready to go home. An expanded pharmacy, providing additional space for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. An interfaith sacred space, which will allow for traditional cultural and healing practices. 71 new parking stalls. As part of the Province’s commitment to environmental sustainability and green buildings, the addition at CMH will be designed and constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification at a minimum. Read original release from BC Gov News

After consultation with the Ministry of Environment and representatives from the Regional District of East Kootenay, Interior Health is issuing a precautionary Water Quality Advisory for Jaffray related to a large diesel spill that occurred Feb. 11 at a local service station. There are no observed impacts to groundwater at this time. Users of groundwater in Jaffray are advised to monitor their water and use an alternate source of water if they notice any changes in their water such as fuel odour or an oil sheen. Diesel fuel has a very distinct odour that should be noticeable at very low concentrations in drinking water. The Ministry of Environment is on site and providing direction for clean-up and remediation. Interior Health has provided recommendations for sampling and ongoing monitoring of groundwater in the area to assess impacts to drinking water. Please check the Regional District of East Kootenay website and our Media Centre for further updates.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert. View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts