6 people dead since start of heat wave, as Montreal unveils its emergency response plan

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• More deaths as record high temperatures continue to scorch southern Quebec

Six Montrealershave died in connection with the ongoing heat wave, and the cityhas unveiled its emergencyresponse plan to avoid a spike in the number of deaths.

Health officials said Tuesday they raised the city's response level from "alert" to an "intervention" after noticing an increase in calls to 811 theInfo-Santlineand to ambulancesin relation to the extreme heat.

Since Monday, Montreal residents have made640 calls for ambulances, officials said.

The city's public health director, Dr. Mylne Drouin,said officialswantto avoid repeating what happened in 2010, when extreme heat caused 106 deaths in the Montreal area.

Under the city's existing guidelines, it can escalate its response plan from an alert to an intervention after three, consecutive days during which temperatures reach above 33 C.

Butofficials worried the number of deaths could increase sharply if they didn't act today, so they preemptively increased their response level,Drouinsaid.

"We see clearly that we're at the beginning of increases, which will continue to go up over the coming days," Drouin said.

Residents' safety of primary concern, mayor says

MayorValriePlantesaid the safety of residents is "of the utmost importance" during the ongoing heat wave, which saw temperatures reach more than 45 C with the humidity this past weekend.

At a morning news conference,Plantesaid the city has already distributed 17,000 litres of water to organizations which workwith the city's homeless.

It has also extended opening hours at pools and water pads.

As part of the city's plan, firemen and police officers have visited 1,300 homes across the Montreal areaso far.

Plantesaid they will be visiting about 5,000 homes.

According to Bruno Lachance,Montreal fire department chief, firefighters check on citizens during these house calls, and if the heat is seriously impacting them, they will send them to hospital.

He said only one person has been referred to emergencyservices this way so far.

For her part, PlanteencouragedMontrealersto help their neighbours and check in on those who may be more vulnerable to the heat, such as the elderly and people with medical conditions.

High heat and humidity until Thursday

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for southern Quebec, which is expected to last until Thursday.

With the humidex, temperatures couldreach between 35 and 40 C today, and over 40 C on Wednesday, the agency said.

Drouin, the public health director,said Montrealerscan expect more heat waves in the future.

"With climate change, these episodes of extreme heat will be more and more frequent, and more and more intense," she said.

To beat the heat, the city recommends:

• Drink lots of water before you are thirsty.
• Take frequent cool showers.
• Go to an air-conditioned environment for a few hours per day (mall, library, cinema)
• Limit physical activity.
• Wear light clothing.