Quebec Faces Surge in 911 Calls Amid Harsh Weather and Flu Season
A surge in freezing rain and an early flu season have caused a significant increase in 911 call volumes in Quebec, pushing emergency services to near-record levels during the holiday season. Urgences-santé reported responding to 1,358 calls in a single day, marking one of the busiest days in the organization’s history. The spike in calls coincided with freezing rain in Montreal, creating dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
Robin Marie Coleman, the chief executive director of VP operations at Santé Québec, noted that this year has seen a rapid rise in influenza cases compared to previous years, contributing to the heightened demand for emergency services.
Emergency rooms across the province are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, attributed to weather-related injuries and the early onset of the flu season. Slip-and-fall injuries due to icy sidewalks have led to a sharp increase in ambulance dispatches, with Urgences-santé handling nearly 50% more calls than usual.
The strain on ambulance services has resulted in emergency room stretchers operating at 128% capacity, while hospitals like Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital are witnessing a surge in patients due to both weather conditions and seasonal illnesses.
To alleviate overcrowding, residents are encouraged to contact the Info-Santé 811 phone line before heading to the emergency room. Coleman emphasized the importance of community collaboration in optimizing resource utilization to manage the high demand for healthcare services.
