911 calls substantially increased during Montreal's intense heat wave

Jul 3 2018, 8:44 pm

As the temperatures increased throughout the weekend, especially on Moving Day, so too did the phone calls to 911 dispatchers.

The heat wave caused an influx of Montrealers to call 911 with signs of heat stroke.

Urgences-Santé – 911, received 1,200 phone calls on Sunday alone.

As a result, Urgences-Santé urged Montrealers to call 811 for guidelines to prevent heat stroke and asked to only call 911 in life-threatening situations.

According to Urgences-Santé, the Montreal fire department had a list of 55,000 addresses of elderly people who were considered especially vulnerable during the heat wave. Police and firefighters were busy making door-to-door trips to ensure their safety.

With the ongoing heat wave, Urgences-Santé has recommended the following guidelines to avoid feeling ill:

  • Drink plenty of water, even before you feel thirsty
  • Limit alcohol intake as it dehydrates you
  • Stay in the shade and cooler ares whenever possible
  • Limit activities that require a lot of physical effort
  • Wear a hat and sunscreen
  • Wear lightweight clothing
  • Elderly people on medication should avoid going outside altogether
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DH Montreal StaffDH Montreal Staff

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