The advice always remains the same: stay hydrated. France is in the midst of a heat wave, this Thursday, June 16: temperatures between 30 and 35°C are expected over the entire southern half of the country, before the heat stroke scheduled for Friday with mercury which should still panic by crossing the 40°C mark locally.
Today, 1st day of a #Heat wave very intense and early, lasting at least 5 days. Peak from Friday to Saturday depending on the region (35 to 40°C on 3/4) before settling on Sunday. Extension of the #vigilanceorange #heat wave to follow tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/w5Sp7hQ23N
— VigiMeteoFrance (@VigiMeteoFrance) June 15, 2022
Météo-France has already placed 23 departments in a large south-west quarter, from Anjou to the Pyrenees, on orange “heat wave” alert, and warned of a heat island in the Drôme and Ardèche area.
>> Heat wave: what are the risks of heat for health (and how to prevent it)?
The advice of doctors for the elderly, who are often the most fragile, obviously remains to stay as cool as possible during the day, to regularly hydrate the body with a glove of cold water or by taking showers. There are also instructions to follow when it comes to drinks and food, as this is not always obvious for seniors, who tend to feel less thirsty. “We need to force ourselves to drink a little more, at least 1.5 or even 2.5 liters of water a day, or drinks such as tea or coffee, but also fruit juices. You can also eat yogurts, compotes, cold soupss”, explains Claire Patry, geriatrician at Bichat hospital in Paris.
The #highheat can have significant effects on the #health of each one
️ Prevention tips apply to everyone, especially fragile people, workers exposed to heat, more at risk of complications. pic.twitter.com/iGtUu6FRx5– SantépubliqueFrance (@SantePublicFr) June 15, 2022
If you feel unwell, there are signs to recognize a dehydrated elderly person: beware of low blood pressure, falls and a state of confusion. “It’s someone who has trouble communicating, as can happen in people with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, who will say that they are not thirsty. Ask the person to stick their tongue out: if they’re all dry, that’s a good sign of dehydration.”assures the specialist.
Conversely, be careful not to drink too much: this is not recommended because it then unbalances the amount of sodium in the blood. “Too much drinking means drinking more than three to four liters of water a day. This can lead to hyperhydration problems and lead to confusional states“, finally warns Claire Patrick.
Finally, you must eat in the usual quantity, even if you have less appetite, in order to avoid undernutrition. It is therefore advisable to eat, for example, several small portions throughout the day.