The first heatwave of 2024 has arrived in France. Tuesday, July 30 is expected to be the hottest day of the episode with 36°C or more expected across much of France. The mercury will even climb to 40°C in the south of France. According to Météo-France, these high temperatures can be explained by “a very hot air mass coming from Spain”. As of Tuesday, 56 departments are placed on orange heatwave alert. The heatwave will progress northward in the coming days.
#Heat wave On Monday, the heat will become very intense in the south of the country.
🌡️On Tuesday, these high temperatures are moving towards the north of the country. 36 C are reached or exceeded over a large part of the country.
The full point 👉https://t.co/2yBV4MJijj pic.twitter.com/lOVK60ojLS
— Météo-France (@meteofrance) July 28, 2024
According to Météo-France, these episodes are expected to increase in the coming years.“By the end of the century, they could be not only much more frequent than today but also much more severe and longer, with an extended period of occurrence from the end of May to the beginning of October.”warns the National Weather Service. The increase in these periods of intense heat “will depend on greenhouse gas policies”.
A heatwave occurs when temperatures are “high” for at least three consecutive days, the organization reminds us. During these episodes, everyone seeks to cool down. But beware of preconceived ideas: not all methods are effective, quite the contrary.
1 Taking a cold shower: false
The idea seems tempting, but beware, it is a preconceived idea according to Isabelle Bereder, head of the rehabilitation, autonomy, aging (RAV) center at the Nice University Hospital. “Cold water can cause vasoconstriction when in contact with hot skin. [resserrement des vaisseaux sanguins]the heart rate will accelerate and we risk feeling even worse”she explains to franceinfo.
A Once you get out of the shower, the temperature difference between the outside and the skin will be high, which will create a “discomfort”. Taking a cold shower is therefore rather counterproductive. Isabelle Bereder advises instead to use cool or room temperature water. And to limit the number of showers, “put cold water on the face and forearms several times a day”is also a good way to cool down.
2 Drinking ice water: false
When the heat is overwhelming, all you want to do is quench your thirst with a large glass of water straight from the fridge. But again, ice water is to be avoided. “This reduces the feeling of thirst more quickly and you risk not hydrating yourself enough to cover your needs.”recalls the health insurance website.
“When you drink very cold, you have thermoreceptors in the human body that will say ‘the body temperature is dropping sharply, you need to warm up’. So, paradoxically, you are not going to quench your thirst.”explained general practitioner Jimmy Mohamed in 2022 on franceinfo.
“Temperate water is water at the ideal temperature”explains Jérémie Dherbometz, training instructor at the Paris Seine Civil Protection. But in case of heat-related discomfort, “The victim must be cooled down to reduce the sensation of heat.”he recommends. “You must therefore give him very cold water, but in small sips; a full glass could cause thermal shock.”.
3 Drinking a cold beer: false
While this hoppy drink may be appealing during the summer and seems to quench your thirst, enjoying one during a heatwave is not a good idea. “Alcohol dehydrates”assures Isabelle Bereder. “We fight the heat less well with alcohol in our blood”. Furthermore, the state of intoxication can “prevent feeling the effects of hyperthermia [élévation de la température corporelle au-dessus de la normale]“ and endanger the victim.
The doctor from the Nice University Hospital also advises against drinking drinks that are too sweet or too caffeinated during a heatwave. Since these are diuretics, they increase urinary secretion, which will slow down hydration. Water is therefore the best option. If you want to drink a beer, choose a non-alcoholic one!
4 Set the air conditioning temperature to the lowest setting: false
During heat waves, air conditioning can be an infallible ally to cool your home or car. But you should not overdo a good thing and avoid setting it to too low a temperature. “The difference with the outside temperature must not be too high”assures Isabelle Bereder.
“Too big a temperature differential will make it difficult for the body to adapt to different temperatures”she says. Alternating between an air-conditioned space and the warm outdoors can also create “inflammatory irritations in the throat”. So to avoid them, she advises setting the air conditioning to 24°C during the day and 22°C at night.
Furthermore, the role of air conditioners in global warming is not negligible. Using them contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which play a determining role in global warming.
5 Keep the windows open to ventilate the home: true at night, false during the day
On the contrary, this behavior should be avoided. According to the general recommendations of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity, during periods of high heat and heatwaves, it is necessary “close the windows and shutters during the day”. By opening the windows during the day, you risk creating a draft of hot air and heating up your home.
It is nevertheless important to ventilate the accommodation by opening the windows, but rather the “evening or night if it’s cool”. If you are unable to cool your home, the ministry advises: “spend several hours a day in a cool place”close to home and identified in advance, such as a cinema, a municipal library, a museum or a large store. Wearing light, loose and light clothing also allows air to pass through and absorbs perspiration.
6 Sleeping with a fan: true
It is the best friend of many French people during the heatwave. “The fan combined with a mist to humidify the body and face is a very good solution to cool down”admits doctor Isabelle Bereder.
However, it is important to ensure that the fan and its blades are cleaned. “The fan must be clean, otherwise it stirs up dust”she assures. “It should also not be too close to the face to avoid irritation.”she adds. The ideal is to position the fan at a distance of one or two meters.
Another common idea: put a damp cloth on the device so that it diffuses cooled air. But this advice is not so effective according to the head of the CHU department. “Laundry can dry out quite quickly and covering an electrical appliance is often a bad idea as it poses a risk of overheating”she qualifies.
7 You should drink a lot of water: quite true
In the event of a heatwave, you obviously need to hydrate regularly to compensate for the water lost through perspiration. But be careful not to drink too much. “Excess water in the body can cause hyponatremia [un taux de sodium dans le sang inférieur à la normale], which causes falls, impaired consciousness, drowsiness…”says Isabelle Bereder. So to avoid these situations, she advises limiting yourself to 1.5 or 2 liters of water per day.
Still and sparkling water are preferred. Some diuretic treatments, which promote urinary secretions, sometimes need to be adapted or stopped during heat waves. “In any case, this decision must be discussed with the treating physician and cannot under any circumstances be taken by the patient himself”warns the doctor.
8 You should eat as little as possible: false
If the high temperatures often cut the appetite, it is necessary to continue to eat properly. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Solidarity advises instead to adapt one’s diet. “Prefer raw fruits and vegetables and cold dishes”. Foods rich in water are therefore to be favored. According to the head of the RAV unit at the Nice University Hospital, iLight dishes should be preferred because “digestion will consume energy and therefore produce heat”.
“You also need a diet that provides mineral salts”believes Isabelle Bereder. “There is no need to add salt, it is naturally present in many foods”. If cooking is necessary to prepare your meal, the ministry advises choosing a “which can be carried out without any supervision so as not to be in contact with a heat source, such as the oven”.
If you are an isolated person, consider registering on the municipal register set up by your town hall. This register allows you to locate isolated people who may be in difficulty, particularly in the event of a heatwave, in order to offer them appropriate assistance if necessary.
Do you need help or advice? Contact the Canicule info service telephone platform on 0800 06 66 66. (free call from a landline in mainland France, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
In case of emergency, contact the Samu by dialing 15.