Between June 15 and 18, France will experience a heat wave with temperatures that can reach nearly 40°C during the day and sweltering nights. What consequences on health? What prevention? How to avoid heat damage? What food to stay hydrated?
[Mise à jour le 14 juin 2022 à 18h32] A heat wave early is announced by Meteo France from Wednesday June 15 and until the weekend. She will begin by concerning the south of the country. The 3 days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday will probably be the hottest at the scale of the territory. The nighttime temperatures will become more and more sweltering with lows often reaching or exceeding the 20°C threshold. thes mid-week highs should reach or exceed 35 to 38 degrees. “Note the remarkable precocity of this episode which is an aggravating factor” warns Météo France. Since 2015, the heat waves have increase in frequency and intensity in France with an occurrence earlier (in June) or later (late August-early September) during the summer period. Among the main heat waves in June in Francethose of june 19471976, 20032005, 2006 and closer 2017 and 2019. The elderly people are very vulnerable to high temperatures and special attention should be paid to them. Food, drinks, effects on health… All you need to know about consequences of heat on the human body and how to protect yourself.
What is the definition of heatwave?
Word “heat wave” comes from the Latin “canicula” which means “little female dog”. Canicula is the name given to the star Sirius (which comes from the Greek “seirius”, meaning “burning”, “fiery”). which is located in the constellation Canis Major. Star that rises and sets with the sun from July 22 to August 22, a period characteristic of high temperatures. The heat wave is associated with very high temperatures day and night for an extended period, usually ofat least 3 consecutive days.
What are the effects of the heat wave on health?
Prolonged exposure to heat is a major stress for the body, reminds the Ministry of Health. the human body tries to adapt to it. He sweat more and the blood vessels dilate. If it fails to maintain its temperature around 37°C when it is very hot or if body fluids or salts are not adequately replaced, several problems can arise:
Extreme heat can also aggravate pre-existing illnesses, being responsible for heat-related illnesses. Taking certain medications can make heat-related effects worse, especially in people at risk.
Heat stroke and heat wave
Heat stroke or “hypothermia” corresponds to overheating of the body: it can no longer cope with the increase in internal temperature linked to high temperatures. It mainly affects athletes, but also the elderly, outdoor workers and young children during peak heat. This also applies to adults who stay too long in confined and poorly ventilated rooms. For example, staying for hours in a car or in an RER in the heat presents a big risk. Cramps, headaches, hot, flushed skin… The first warning signs that must grow to call 15.
Dehydration and heat wave
Puffs of sweat when drinking a glass of water, absence of urine for 5 hours or dark urine, dry lips… Beware of dehydration, which is particularly common in the event of a heat wave. Concretely: a person who sweats and does not drink enough becomes dehydrated. His body lacks water and becomes dehydrated. The elderly are most at risk.
Hyponatremia
For the elderly, patients with chronic diseases (kidney, heart, liver, respiratory failure, diabetes, cancers, etc.), patients taking certain medications (diuretics, neuroleptics, antidepressants): hyponatremia (decrease in the concentration of salt in the blood) is a risk increased in hot weather. For those at risk: do not exceed a supply of 1.5 liters of water in addition to foods rich in water, eat a balanced diet, avoid going outside during the hottest hours and see your doctor if you are following a low-salt diet.
Why should we avoid drinking alcohol when it’s hot?
Consuming alcoholic beverages in hot weather potentially worsens the effects of alcohol and heat on the body.
- An alcoholic drink does not allow you to quench your thirst. On the contrary, alcohol increases the risk of dehydration due to its diuretic action.
- The alcohol does lose more fluid to the body, which more quickly exposes the body to heat stroke.
The best : The prevention of risks related to the interaction between alcohol and high heat requires controlled consumption, the ideal being to drink as little alcohol as possible, if at all. The limit is set at two standard drinks per day for women and three standard drinks per day for men. In case of occasional consumption, it is better not to exceed four standard glasses at once and do not hesitate to drink water between each glass. People with chronic illnesses and pregnant women are advised not to drink alcohol.
The public telephone platform, “Canicule info service” on 0800 06 66 66 (free from a landline)provides advice for se protect and protect those around you, especially the most fragile. Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
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Medicine and heat wave
During a heat wave, the body is weakened. Taking medication carries certain risks under these extreme conditions.
From what temperature do we speak of a heat wave?
The heat wave is associated with very high temperatures day and night for an extended period, usually ofat least 3 consecutive days. Meteorologically, it is exceptional nature of high night temperatures which marks the duration of a heatwave episode. Temperature and duration thresholds are defined and vary according to the departments, explains Meteo France.
For instance : in Toulouse, Météo-France speaks of a heat wave when for 3 days and 3 nights we do not go back below 21°C minimum and we exceed 36°C maximum during the day.
In the middle of a heat wave, simple actions can prevent accidents. It is necessary to prepare BEFORE the first signs of bodily suffering. It’s important to to drink a lot of water without waiting to be thirsty: when it’s hot, your body sweats more than usual and you risk becoming dehydrated. Do not hesitate to always have your bottle of water at hand, to drink up to two liters of water a day! Similarly, avoid diuretic drinks (tea, coffee, soda) as well as alcohol which promotes dehydration.
Who are the vulnerable people during the heat wave?
The people most at risk in the event of a heat wave are: people over the age of 65 (when you are oldthe body sweats little and has difficulty maintaining itself at 37°C). and infants and children under 4 years of age (the body sweats a lot to maintain the right temperature, the child loses water and risks dehydration). Next come: people with strong physical activity, those working in the heat (bakery, laundry, construction, etc.) and the homeless.
Heat wave map
Each year, the heat wave plan is activated in France on June 1 and until September 15. Its objective is to anticipate the arrival of a heat wave, to define the actions to be implemented at the local and national levels to prevent and limit the health effects and to best adapt the prevention and management measures at the territorial level. paying particular attention to specific populations
The different levels of activation of the heat wave plan are articulated with the 4 colors of meteorological vigilance of Météo France:
- Level 1 – seasonal monitoring (green vigilance)
- Level 2 – heat warning (yellow warning)
- Level 3 – heatwave alert (orange alert)
- Level 4 – maximum mobilization (red vigilance)
When was the last heat wave in France?
Several heat waves have hit France in recent years. There was no heat wave in France during the summer of 2021. The last very extensive and intense episodes took place in 2019, between June 24 and July 7 and July 21 and 27. According to bulletin published by Santé Publique France in September, 1435 deaths were observed (567 during the first heat wave, 868 during the second) including 572 in the departments with red vigilance and 10 workplace victims. The most affected are the over 75s, but the age groups 15-44 and 65-74 were also impacted.
Before, the months of June 2005 and 2006 experienced real heat waves with temperatures often between 35 and 40°Cin particular in the south-east and in the Rhône valley (more than 30°C every day in Lyon in 2006). The biggest heat wave was in August 2003. Its intensity, duration and geographical extent had been exceptional. She had caused 15,000 additional deaths compared to the usual mortality for this time of year. Other memorable heat waves: that of July 1983 “longest observed” remember Meteo Franceand that of the summer of 1947.
When does the heat wave occur in France?
The heat wave occurs at different times depending on the country. In France, the period of high temperatures that can lead to a heat wave can start from end of June and continue until August 15.
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Sources:
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2: management of the epidemic in the event of the occurrence of heat waves. High Council of Public Health. May 11, 2020
Heat wave and Covid-19: state of knowledge on prevention measures. French Public Health. July 23, 2020