While France is suffocating under the sweltering heat, everyone competes with tricks to cool off as best they can. Météo France has placed 18 departments on “orange vigilance” heat wave, from the Nord and the Pas-de-Calais to the Drôme and the Ardèche, passing through the Paris region. In Ile-de-France, we are suffering twice from the heat wave and this heat wave goes hand in hand with peaks of ozone pollution. To help Parisians cool off, the town hall has launched a special heat wave application with Météo France. The “Extrema Paris” smartphone application makes it possible to identify the areas most affected by scorching temperatures. Above all, it helps Parisians to geolocate the “fresh” points of the capital. Among the 1000 or so “islands of freshness” provided, everyone can choose between going green in parks and gardens, making a canvas in air-conditioned cinemas, relaxing in a swimming pool, growing in museum galleries or still take refuge in the churches.
A personalized risk assessment
In addition to the reminder of the reflexes to adopt in the event of a heat wave (see our article The right reflexes in the event of a heat wave), the application offers the possibility to the user to inform his profile and his state of health (chronic disease or not, particular disorder) in order to know if he is particularly vulnerable in the face of high heat (risk of dehydrationof heatstrokeor heart attack, etc.).
Parisian urban planning makes you “sweat” a little more
In Paris, as in large cities with little vegetation, residents suffer more from the heat due to the urban heat island phenomenon. Kezako? This concept refers to the phenomenon by which the temperature is higher in the city than in rural areas. Dwellings, and in this case Haussmannian buildings in the case of Paris, are made of materials and a coating that store heat instead of evacuating it. Added to this is the lack of vegetated areas capable of cooling the air.
Note that a telephone platform is available to all French people who wish to obtain advice in the face of high temperatures on 0800 06 66 66 (available 7 days a week).
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