HEAT CURVE VIGILANCE CARD. In these periods of high heat, heatwave vigilance has been triggered several times in France. Levels, maps… Here’s what you need to know.
[Mis à jour le 1er août 2022 à 10h30] It is no longer rare to hear the famous “departments placed on red, orange or yellow vigilance” during the heat wave. These alert levels are established by Météo France and Public Health France, in connection with the General Directorate of Health (DGS) and aims to prevent the risks of a heat wave according to its intensity, via a heatwave vigilance card.
There are 3 levels of vigilance: yellow, orange and red. Since the deadly heat wave of 2003, Météo France and the government have been working together and a heat wave plan has been put in place alongside the vigilance map. Level 1 of the heat wave plan is activated from the first of June each year. 3 other levels exist: level 2 (yellow vigilance), level 3 (orange vigilance) and level 4 (red vigilance).
This year, level 4, the highest (red vigilance) was activated twice, in June and in July. What do the different levels of vigilance and the heat wave plan mean? What are the measures put in place by the government with the heat wave plan?
The heat wave vigilance map of Météo France
Every day during heat waves, Météo France updates its vigilance map at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. There are 3 levels of heat wave alertness:
- Yellow: be careful. It is very hot. The yellow level is often activated at the start of a strong heat wave, but also at the end of a heat wave when temperatures begin to drop. It is activated in two cases: a short-term heat peak (1 or 2 days) or a persistent episode of heat, but below heat wave thresholds.
- Orange: be very careful. This level of alertness corresponds to a period of intense heat or heat wave day and night, for at least 3 days.
- Red: absolute vigilance. This is the maximum threshold of heatwave vigilance. This level is declared in the event of a very intense and long-lasting heat wave. Météo-France qualifies this situation as a phenomenon of “exceptional” intensity.
The green color on the Météo-France map means that there is no special vigilance.
What is the heat wave plan?
Following the deadly heat wave of 2003, the government decided to set up a National Heat Wave Plan (PNC). This heat wave plan is then activated each year from June 1 to September 15 in order to monitor seasonal weather conditions and to be able to act and warn in the event of a heat wave. This plan defines a total of 4 levels of alert, with for each of the measures to be put in place in order to limit the health effects and protect the most fragile people such as the elderly, infants, children, infants, pregnant women, etc. The heat wave plan also makes it possible to identify vulnerable and isolated people. During a heat wave, take the right steps.
What are the different alert levels of the heat wave plan in France?
The national heat wave plan defines 4 levels:
- Level 1: seasonal watch (green vigilance card) : this level is necessarily triggered from June 1 to September 30, but can exceptionally be set up earlier in the event of strong early heat or be extended in the event of a late heat peak.
- Level 2: heat warning (yellow vigilance card). This level is reached in two situations. In the event of a heat peak, when the heat is very intense over a short period (1 or 2 days) or during a longer episode of high heat, but below the alert threshold (level 3 orange). It is a period of heightened vigilance. If your department is placed in yellow vigilance, be attentive and careful. These situations can present risks for your health and that of those around you, especially for the most fragile people (infants, elderly people, pregnant women, etc.), but also for certain people because of their working conditions.
- Level 3: heatwave alert (orange vigilance card) : we can now speak of a heat wave. As a reminder, a heat wave is defined by temperatures during the day, but also at night reaching or exceeding the departmental thresholds for at least 3 consecutive days. Who can trigger level 3? Météo France has drawn up a meteorological vigilance map (orange vigilance). Therefore, the prefects of departments can trigger level 3 of the heat wave plan in order to avoid a health crisis due to very high temperatures, to protect the most vulnerable people.
- Level 4: maximum mobilization (red vigilance card): this corresponds to an extreme level of heat wave due to its intensity, duration or geographical extension. The health risk is then very important. Additional measures are in place to protect those most at risk and avoid collateral damage.
What actions are implemented during the heat wave plan?
Each level of the heat wave plan corresponds to a very specific system piloted by Public Health France, with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, in order to raise awareness and inform French people of the risks associated with each level of vigilance, of the precautions to be taken in the event of heat waves, to protect the most vulnerable (infants, pregnant women, elderly people, etc.) or those most exposed to heat due to their work, and thus avoid a health crisis. Here are the actions taken:
- Level 1 : meteorological and health monitoring is in place, and the “heatwave info service” telephone call platform is open during periods of high heat, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can call 0 800 06 66 66 free of charge to find out about the situation and find out about the health recommendations to follow during an episode of high heat.
- Level 2 : monitoring is reinforced and the various departments concerned are preparing in the event of a transition to level 3.
- Level 3 : it allows in particular to put in place measures for the most vulnerable people, ie the elderly, people suffering from an illness and pregnant women. When level 3 is reached, the prefect can take the necessary measures provided for in the Departmental Heatwave Management Plan (PGCD): set up appropriate communication to prevent risks and actions to adopt (hydration, cooling down …), activate the heat wave register in the town halls to identify all people vulnerable to the heat wave and wishing to be monitored and contacted by the town hall services. A telephone call center (3975) has been set up and thus makes it possible to contact people in a fragile situation who have registered beforehand or whose condition has been reported. For these people, specific refreshed rooms are also available between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For everyone, refreshed rooms are freely accessible in some town halls at the same time slots. Measures are also taken in establishments welcoming the elderly or disabled, but also for homeless people…
- Level 4: this extreme heat wave situation requires the implementation of exceptional measures. The Minister of the Interior is then responsible for managing the heat wave, and the mobilization of the government is maximum with the activation of the Interministerial Crisis Unit (CIC) the activation of the Interministerial Crisis Unit (CIC) which brings together all the ministries concerned.
The Minister of Health and Prevention, François Braun, announced on July 13 that he was reactivating the toll-free Heatwave info service number. You can reach 0800 06 66 66 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday (free call from a landline in France). An operator will inform you about the heat wave, give you advice on what to do in case of high temperatures to cool you down and lower the temperature in your accommodation.