All of France on alert for heat danger on anniversary of 2003 tragedy
Weather warnings have been raised for every region with the potential risk to over-75s stressed
People are advised to stay cool by regularly wetting their bodies
Antonin Albert / Shutterstock
High temperature alerts have been raised in every region of France due to the ongoing heatwave, which poses a serious health risk to over-75s and vulnerable individuals. We look at the advice on how to stay cool and safe.
Temperatures across all of France are predicted by state forecaster Météo France to hit, and in most cases, surpass, 30C on Sunday August 11, with the heat intensifying on Monday.
Normandy and Hauts-de-France are not on alert on Sunday, however Météo France has extended the weather alert to these regions for Monday.
Read more: Severe Heatwave Warnings in South of France: Stay Updated and Safe
15,000 deaths in 2003
France has paid particular attention to the danger of heat to over-75s and other vulnerable individuals since August 11, 2003 when it was reported that 15,000 people had died due the heat, 82% of whom were 75 or older.
The parliamentary report into the deaths also estimated that 92% of the victims lived alone.
The tragedy of 2003 etched the danger of heat into France’s public consciousness, with people encouraged to perform wellness checks by visiting vulnerable individuals, neighbours, friends and family when the alert level is raised.
The system of green, yellow, orange and red alerts for heatwaves was also introduced.
How to stay cool in a heatwave
The official heath advice, published on sante.gouv.fr recommends:
Drink water regularly
Wet your body and use a fan
Eat enough food
Do not drink alcohol
Keep your home cool by closing the shutters during the day and airing out at night if the temperature has dropped sufficiently
Visit a cool place (cinema, library, supermarket, etc.)
Stay in contact with loved ones.
In addition, elderly individuals are recommended to:
Spend several hours a day in a cool or air-conditioned place
Regularly wet their bodies to lower their body temperature (for example, by applying damp cloths or gloves to their face, arms and neck) and spraying water on their face...
Drink enough (about 1.5 litres of water, i.e. the amount of water they are able to eliminate)
Eat enough (if necessary by splitting meals) to provide the body with the salts it needs.
How dangerous has the heatwave been in 2024?
The first week of August saw 80 heat-related deaths in France, most of whom were over 85, according to SOS Médecins. There were also a reported 720 people taken into emergency care due to the heat - an increase of 400 on the previous week.
Up to 342 spectators were also treated for heat-related issues at the Paris Olympic Games
