Direction régionale de santé publique

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

heat wave Summer 2018 in Montréal

Montréal’s regional public health department (DRSP)

has determined that 66 people died due to the heat

wave that hit the Island of Montréal in the summer

of 2018. This is 13 more deaths than stated in the

preliminary report published in July of that year.

Although this extreme heat event lasted from 30 June

to 5 July, the DRSP looked at all 328 deaths that occurred

on its territory between 30 June and 8 July to determine

which ones were heat-related.

The investigation shows that vulnerable people living in urban heat islands are twice as likely to die during an extreme heat event.

Data sources:Îlots de chaleur / fraïcheur urbains et température de surface (Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 2018).

Place of residence of people who died from heat and presence of heat islands on the Island of Montréal

Heat-related deaths

Cool islands

Heatislands

Legend

2010

9.3 2018

6.4

Daily death rate per million residents during the last 2

extreme heat events in Montréal

Characteristics of people most

vulnerable to heat

Living in urban heat islands

Chronic diseases or psychotic disorders

Socially isolated

Low income

Older

$

DRSP RECOMMENDATIONSThe DRSP recommends improving interventions targeting the most vulnerable populations as well as urban heat islands:

Target people and places at higher risk, through adapted community-based interventions involving all partners in the field: municipal emergency response partners, health network and community groups.

Over long-term greening plans, add rapid greening operations in environments at risk by creating temporary planting zones or living wall gardens.

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Health conditionsof people whose deaths were heat-related

Confirmed and probable cases (n=66)

Legend

Estimated prevalence among Montrealers

Prevent today, live better tomorrowThe Direction régionale de santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal serves the entire region of Montréal. Public health works to improve and safeguard population health, including in emergency situations.

For more information, go to drsp.santemontreal.qc.ca.

About CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CCSMTL)CCSMTL is one of five CIUSSS on the Island of Montréal. In addition to its local mandates, the CCSMTL also has regional mandates that cover regional public health department activities and coordination of regional emergency measures and public safety.

For more information, go to ciusss-centresudmtl.gouv.qc.ca/propos/documentation-et-rapports/plans-daction

Additional information: santemontreal.ca/healthysummer santemontreal.ca/heat

Source: Direction régionale de santé publique, CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

To see the full report of the epidemiological investigation on the 2018 heat wave in Montréal, go to santemontreal.qc.ca/rapportschaleur