title: Implementation of the Montreal heat response plan during the 2010 heat wave.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper is to describe Montreal's heat response plan and its application during the July 2010 heat wave.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Montreal heat response plan is designed to ensure the surveillance of weather and health indicators during the summer season and to coordinate actions to be undertaken during this period to reduce morbidity and mortality due to heat, particularly when weather thresholds are reached or an increase in health indicators is observed. It was developed to coordinate and apply intervention measures on the Island of Montreal and has been in effect since 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the beginning of July 2010, Montreal experienced a heat wave that lasted 5 days. During this period, health indicators such as total mortality, prehospital emergency transports, calls to the health information line and hospital admissions were monitored by the Montreal public health surveillance system. The decision to implement emergency interventions and actions performed by regional and local public health and municipal partners (intervention level) was made following attainment of a predetermined weather threshold and increases in health indicators. The significant increase in daily observed mortality from all causes and in particular people dying at home or in the community prompted the Director of public health to conduct a chart review of all people deceased from July 5 to July 11, 2010 to determine cause of death and underlying health conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the heat wave, there were 304 reported deaths from all causes in Montreal residents, of which 106 were probably or possibly heat-related. Major underlying health conditions in heat-related deaths included cardiovascular problems and mental health illness. Furthermore, in the case of people with mental illness who died during the heat wave, the chart review revealed that many were contacted 24 hours prior to their death by health care professionals, family members, neighbours or friends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following the 2010 heat wave, the Montreal heat response plan and heat surveillance system were updated to include initiatives to better communicate preventive measures to the vulnerable populations and to intervene earlier during a heat wave.
authors.affiliation: Direction de santé publique de l'Agence de santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, QC. kprice@santepub-mtl.qc.ca
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perron
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Extreme heat; heat-related mortality; surveillance system