People with chronic cardiac and breathing problems are having great difficulty coping with the heat, humidity, and smog blanketing southern Quebec.
Hospitals are reporting an increase in the number of visits from patients, while paramedics say they are being pushed to the limit.
Urgence Sante's Lionel Rheault and Pasquale Daversa say that any day where the thermometer hits 30 degrees will be busy dealing with people who cannot breathe.
Heat, smog and lack of air conditioning take their toll on hundreds of seniors with existing medical conditions, forcing patients to visit emergency rooms to get oxygen.
One patient with asthma the pair treated on Tuesday was typical of many they will see during a heat wave.
"We started with the vital signs and the 02 sat, that's the oxygen level in the body, was really low," said Daversa. "She's known for a pulmonary condition. With the heat and everything her saturation was very low so we started with the ventolin and the oxygen."
Crowded emergency rooms
After starting treatment on location, paramedics are running into more problems when they reach hospitals: emergency rooms are crowded with other patients who arrived on their own.
"When we arrive with three similar cases, it takes more time with the triage and to take care of the patient," said Urgences Sante spokesman Benoit Garneau.
Urgences Santé prepared for the heat wave by increasing the number of ambulances on patrol.
Emergency care on two wheels
Part of Urgence Sante's arsenal includes a couple of technicians riding on bicycles, and carrying 20 kilograms of equipment each.
"We drink a lot, put a lot of cream, and look for some shade," said Jonathan Carignan.
Carignan and his partner Sylvain Rivard keep an eye on cyclists, tourists and joggers who may have overestimated their capacity to deal with the heat.
"Sometimes we see them on the sidewalk, having trouble breathing or be really exhausted," said Rivard.
Response may be delayed
As the heat wave rolls on, the calls will keep coming into the 9-1-1, sending more paramedics and technicians to control the damage brought about by too much sun and too much heat.
On a typical day, they receive an average of 800 calls, but during a heat wave, that number jumps to as much as 1200.
It's a struggle, but not yet a crisis for the emergency workers.
If much more than 1200 calls a day come in, Garneau said that an ambulance response for non-urgent calls may have to be delayed.
However Garneau cautions that Urgences Sante is not yet at that point, and with a break in the heat expected for the weekend, is not expecting to take that step.
