With heat waves more frequent, P.E.I. public health officials are preparing an alert system [Video]

With Prince Edward Island slowly but surely getting hotter, the province’s Chief Public Health Office is developing a plan to keep people safe during the heat waves that have become increasingly more common. 

P.E.I. saw three heat waves in 2024, with the first warning issued on the last day of spring. Environment Canada issues heat warnings when the temperature is forecast to exceed 28 C for two or more days with overnight temperatures not dropping below 18 C.

Despite the increased frequency of these events, this province is one of the last in the country to develop what’s known as a heat alert and response system, or HARS. 

That’s about to change. The Chief Public Health Office recently secured funding from Health Canada to hire a co-ordinator to develop such a program in P.E.I.

“When we look at extreme heat events, particularly in other provinces, then we know that there’s an increase in daily mortality rates when temperatures rise …