Wildfires could compound strain on already burdened ERs, officials warn
Global News
As Canada grapples with the intensifying threat of wildfires, an already overburdened emergency room system may be faced with an influx of patients seeking medical care.
As Canada grapples with the intensifying threat of wildfires, an already overburdened emergency room system may also be faced with an influx of patients seeking medical care for smoke-related health conditions, according to health officials.
Speaking during a Monday press conference, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos acknowledged the country’s emergency departments are, “already quite burdened,” as wildfires continue to burn and produce harmful smoke.
“The (emergency room) situation is obviously continuing,” he said. “Although there are signs of improvement in some parts of Canada overall, it is still an issue of great concern both to workers and to patients.”
And as emergency rooms continue to feel the strain, Duclos added we haven’t yet seen the peak of the wildfire season in Canada – that is generally reached in July and the beginning of August. That means more smoke (and the health-related issue that come with it) could be on the way.
Emergency rooms across Canada are grappling with a mounting crisis that is leading to closures, reduced hours and longer patient wait times.
An editorial released Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warned the upcoming summer months could bring “dire consequences” to the country’s ER impacting patient outcomes and provider well-being.
The editorial was written by Dr. Catherine Varner, an ER doctor at the Sinai Health System in Toronto.
“The summer months now also bring a higher risk for climate-related disasters, like the heat dome of 2021 or the wildfires that have already resulted in widespread evacuations this spring, that can quickly exceed the capacity of emergency services and hospital resources,” the report stated.