Montreal Public Health has been reporting at least one heat-related death every day since Sunday. Officials are still cautioning dangers continue even as temperatures begin to drop. Medical experts stress the need to stay alert for signs of heat illness in the days after intense heat occurrences.
Temperatures in Montreal reached well over 33 degrees Celsius both Sunday and Monday. Brace yourselves for some truly balmy conditions—Tuesday’s high is going to be 34! In the capital city, Environment Canada is forecasting some relief on Wednesday with a high of only 29 degrees. Soak it up while you still can – seasonal temperatures will be back on Thursday! Montreal Public Health’s Dr. Anne-Sara Briand cautions that the perils of extreme heat can linger beyond when the temperature drops. This sudden change in temperature shouldn’t lead us to underestimate those risks.
“Every year we try to avoid this kind of death because it’s preventable and we really need people to be aware that it’s not just casual heat,” Dr. Briand stated. Her concerns reflect a broader trend. During the summer heat wave of 2018, 66 people died in Montreal from heat-related causes, a serious outcome of climate change.
A recent report from Quebec’s Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) uncovers a sordid truth. Heat is responsible for an estimated 470 deaths annually in the province, amplifying the ongoing crisis. In fact, vulnerable populations, especially seniors with underlying health conditions, account for an estimated two-thirds of these deaths.
Vanessa Grillo at Urgences-santé reported a spike in emergency room visits related to heat-related symptoms. In just the last few days, over 200 people have been hospitalized. Emergency rooms across the city are inundated with patients presenting with heat related concerns. This rise highlights a growing and troubling public health crisis.
Montreal Public Health is strongly encouraging all providers of healthcare to act. In particular, they want emergency department physicians to notify them of suspected heat-related deaths if Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for the city. This proactive approach is designed to help us understand the full toll heat is taking on our public health and to help prevent future tragedies from occurring.
As temperatures continue to swing between summer and fall, health officials are reminding everyone that the dangers of extreme heat exposure don’t go away overnight. Public health expert Tudor Matei, a co-author of the study, drew attention to the growing problem. As he put it, “It’s increasingly painful.”
