The recent heat wave in Toronto put a strain on emergency departments, resulting in nearly 40 visits attributed to the extreme temperatures.
According to Toronto Public Health, hospitals in Toronto recorded a total of 39 heat-related ER visits from June 30 to July 4, coinciding with Environment Canada’s orange-level heat alert. The peak day of the heat wave was July 2, which saw 15 ER visits.
The health authority indicated that the highest temperature reached during the heat wave was 36°C, with the humidex peaking at 48.
They also pointed out that emergency room statistics do not encompass all health impacts associated with extreme heat, such as the exacerbation of cardiac and respiratory issues.
Millions of Canadians spend Canada Day trying to stay cool with temperatures feeling like 40 C in much of Ontario and Quebec because of a heat dome.
Dr. Edward Xie, an emergency physician associated with the University Health Network, reported that his emergency department experienced an uptick in activity last week, although he noted it can be challenging to determine if that was solely due to the heat. He emphasized that differentiating between illnesses caused by heat and those where heat exacerbates existing health issues requires careful consideration.
“Anecdotally, I would definitely say that the number of patients we saw at my hospital was higher than normal over the past week,” he stated in a conversation last Friday.
Toronto Public Health indicated that the pattern observed last week in hospitals mirrored that of June 2025, when 42 individuals visited emergency rooms during a three-day heat wave. The recent heat warning persisted for five days.
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Extreme heat led to 42 emergency room visits in Toronto, public health agency says
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Direct comparisons of ER visits from this heat wave and those from last June are limited due to variations in timing and duration, as well as changes in Environment Canada’s weather warning system, a public health spokesperson explained in a statement.
Additionally, this year saw enhanced heat relief initiatives, and the Canada Day holiday may have influenced the number of visitors in the city, noted Dane Griffiths.
‘We can’t air condition our way out of this’
Xie emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive climate change policies rather than merely addressing the health impacts of extreme heat as individual preparedness measures.
“Ultimately, our political and economic choices are contributing to heat waves. We cannot simply rely on air conditioning to solve this fundamental issue, and depending on air conditioning puts us one power outage away from a crisis,” Xie remarked.
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Climate change, largely driven by fossil fuel combustion, is exacerbating the intensity and frequency of heat waves globally.
Xie recommends treating heat waves like any other emergency situation. He advises staying hydrated with cool fluids and avoiding alcohol, sugary, or caffeinated beverages that can lead to dehydration.
He also mentioned that fans can circulate hot air rather than provide cooling relief in extremely hot environments.
“People should be proactive in preparing for heat waves, recognizing their potential danger—not just to themselves, but to those they care about—and plan accordingly, similar to how one would prepare for an ice storm or a blackout,” he said.
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Heat warning for Toronto extended through Saturday: Environment Canada
The latest heat wave coincided with gatherings in the Toronto area for Canada Day and World Cup events. Severe heat was one factor in the cancellation of last Thursday’s World Cup match broadcasts at Nathan Phillips Square, along with the implementation of additional cooling measures for the final match held at Toronto Stadium that day.
Much of the province was under an orange warning from Environment Canada, indicating severe weather that could lead to serious health impacts or damage.
