Hamilton hospitals see uptick in visits amid wildfire smoke crisis

The wildfire smoke coming from northern Ontario has caused an uptick in hospital visits in Hamilton.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare says their emergency department saw an extra 15 to 25 people a day last week due to the smoke.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) says they have seen a small increase in respiratory-based complaints, saying the increase is likely similar to what emergency medical services are encountering.

St. Joes notes that the young, elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions are most vulnerable to health impacts from the wildfire smoke.

Dr. Alim Pardhan, the chief of emergency medicine at HHS, advises to limit time outside — particularly for those with underlying respiratory or cardiac conditions — keep windows closed, and check in more frequently with vulnerable people.

Anyone who feels an increased shortness of breath or chest pain should go to the emergency department right away.

READ MORE: Air quality improves in GTHA as northern Ontario wildfires rage