As residents of Ottawa endured a heat wave this past week, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) stepped up in remarkable ways to ensure the community’s well-being. Their proactive measures, dedicated support, and invaluable resources made a significant difference, helping us navigate through the extreme temperatures safely.
On June 17th, Ottawa Public Health entered into an enhanced response to actively address the multi-day heat event through a comprehensive approach aimed at protecting our community, particularly people who are most at risk of heat-related illness and who face the greatest disadvantage.
Outreach to Partners
OPH has been collaborating closely with the City’s Extreme Heat, Cold and Smog Planning Committee, school boards, Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes and Ottawa Community Housing. Multilingual resources have been shared with partners including school boards, Events Central, construction associations, and property management companies.
Active check-ins with clients were initiated by OPH and with partners. For example, OPH’s Healthy Babies, Healthy Children team is contacting expecting families and those with young children to ensure they have access to cool air and to provide support.
With support from the Office of Emergency Management, OPH provided Ottawa Fire Services lists of high-rise buildings in neighbourhoods that face the greatest disadvantage, with high percentages of residents 75 or older living alone, including those in publicly funded, social/affordable housing. Ottawa Fire Services is using this list to assess what access to air-conditioning is available and are also speaking to property managers and residents directly to ensure that they receive the information and supports they need.
Community Engagement
OPH is encouraging residents to check on their neighbours, especially older adults and others most-at risk of heat related illness. OPH’s Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team has been working with community partners such as Refugee613, Community Health and Resource Centres to facilitate access to information and resources while also identifying needs and hearing from affected communities. OPH has disseminated multilingual information through focused community outreaches including multilingual social media groups such as Facebook and WhatsApp in neighborhoods that face the greatest disadvantage. This information is being shared through multilingual social media groups on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Through partnerships with local media outlets, OPH ensured that their messages reached a wide audience. Regular updates on heat advisories, tips for staying safe, and information on available resources were broadcasted, keeping the public informed and prepared.
Health Services and Support
Despite the challenges posed by the heat wave, OPH continued to provide essential health services. Their dedication to maintaining regular health services, while also addressing the additional demands brought on by the extreme weather, demonstrated their commitment to the community’s overall health.
Community Engagement
OPH’s engagement with the community was instrumental in managing the heat wave. They encouraged neighbors to check on each other, particularly those who are more vulnerable to heat. This sense of community solidarity helped ensure that no one was left to cope with the heat alone.
To the entire team at OPH we thank you for all of your ongoing efforts!