Let’s fight. This Saturday, July 16, 38 departments, as well as Andorra, were placed on heat wave orange vigilance by Météo France. In view of this level of alert and while the mercury is expected to rise further until it reaches the peak of the heat wave, scheduled for Monday, the state services are mobilizing. The goal ? Avoid a recurrence of the disaster of 2003.
To respond to heat waves like the one currently hitting France, the State has a key system: the heat wave plan. Depending on the forecasts of Météo France, but also on a set of health indicators, the prefectures can trigger measures to try to mitigate the consequences of these meteorological phenomena which undermine our bodies.
- When is the heat wave plan triggered?
Firstly a surveillance and prevention system, the heat wave plan was drawn up in 2004, a year after the 2003 heat wave. Combined with the authorities’ unpreparedness, this exceptional heat wave caused 15,000 deaths, overwhelmed hospitals and had in particular needed to use the Rungis market to store the bodies of certain victims … “Since then, we have learned a lot”, repeated again, Wednesday, the spokesman of the government, Olivier Véran, during a move to a retirement home.
To prevent the heat, the State activates the heat wave plan each year, between June 1 and September 15. The goal ? Establish a “seasonal watch”, which corresponds to the “green vigilance” level of Météo France. Even if the temperatures are mild, the State services are adopting “increased vigilance”, in connection with the weather forecast, to prevent any deterioration in the situation. If monitoring is national, most of the heat wave plan has been in the hands of the prefects since 2020. The government is thus hoping for a reaction as close as possible to the realities of each territory.
- What are the different levels of alerts?
In addition to green vigilance, there are three levels of alert, defined “for each department, with health actors, based on the health impacts observed in the past”, according to Meteo France. First there is yellow vigilance, a “heat peak” presenting a risk for some people, but of short duration – a maximum of two days – or of moderate intensity over more than three days.
Then comes the orange level, which corresponds to a period of intense heat “for 3 consecutive days and 3 nights, likely to constitute a health risk for the entire exposed population”, according to Météo France. 38 departments are currently concerned. None has yet reached the maximum level, red vigilance, a so-called “extreme” heat wave, “exceptional in its duration, its intensity, its geographical extension, and which has a strong health impact for the whole of the population”. At this stage, many activities would be stopped, having become too risky in view of the temperatures.
- How is the situation likely to evolve?
The heat wave will intensify until Monday. New departments could still cross the orange alert threshold. “Sunday, the rise in temperatures will continue in particular in the South-West where 40°C will be reached more often. The high temperatures will begin to spread towards the North-West”, indicates Météo France in its last weather report. On Monday, departments further north-west of the country should switch to orange vigilance, and temperature records should also be broken. 37°C are expected in Rennes and Nantes, 38°C in Bordeaux. “The heatwave episode will begin to subside from the west from Tuesday,” concludes Météo France.
By receiving these alert levels, the prefects can put in place different responses. Public services, the Ministry of Health in the lead, multiply the recommendations (hydration, limitations of outdoor activities) intended for the entire population. Easy access to refreshed premises or bathing places can be set up. Some construction sites may be prohibited. Forest services and firefighters are mobilized to fight against the outbreak of fire.
In nursing homes, residents are invited to stay in the coolest rooms. Caregivers must regularly offer them water and advise against going out during the hottest hours. Some treatments are stopped so as not to overload the kidneys, the organs responsible for filtering water. At the same time, the health services are preparing, coordinated by the Regional Health Agencies, to distribute the people in need of care, depending on the filling of the hospitals, already in difficulty because of Covid-19.
Finally, from the orange level, the town halls must contact the elderly isolated at home to offer them support and check that they are well. “There will not be zero deaths, but we will not find people dead in their homes three, four or even ten days later” as in 2003, estimates Isabelle Sénécal, head of the advocacy division of the Little Brothers of the Poor interviewed by AFP . If the device can be improved, “the heat wave plan is run in, it works”, she reassures.