The Minister of Health asked the town halls to identify the cool places where to take shelter in the event of strong heat.
You will no doubt have noticed it in milder temperatures and hot episodes. Summer is approaching. And with, the first preventive measures linked to extreme heat. An annual plan is launched every 1ers June since the fatal heatwave of 2003. But in this year 2017, the new Minister of Solidarity and Health innovates.
Agnès Buzyn asked town halls to identify cool places where fragile people can take shelter. A first announced during a meeting between the minister and the various partners of the national heat wave plan.
Four alert levels
Libraries, cinemas, shopping centers or even supermarkets… All places offering a haven of freshness during periods of hot weather must be easily identifiable in the municipalities of France. The objective of this new measure is necessary. Last year, four heat waves followed one another during the summer. They caused 700 more deaths than expected.
As every year, the plan is triggered without waiting for the arrival of the first heat peaks. This allows the teams to be organized without urgency. Because, within the framework of the heat wave plan, four levels of alerts can be activated. The first corresponds to a simple seasonal watch. The latter causes maximum mobilization.
If necessary, a toll-free number can be activated by the Ministry of Health. The identification of vulnerable people, mainly those who are isolated or elderly, is also planned. But the Minister of Health asks citizens not to wait for the heat wave to take care of their neighbor.
Target the most vulnerable
Agnès Buzyn therefore suggests being vigilant on a daily basis. “Everyone must have a careful look towards the people of the street, bring a bottle of water, call 15,” she said. Levels 2 and 3 of the heat wave plan also provide for sheltering people in a precarious situation or homeless, including with the help of emergency accommodation.
Both in terms of prevention and communication, the Ministry of Health has provided a set of measures for each group at risk of complications. Among them, pregnant women, young children and people with disabilities.
As such, health and medico-social establishments will be particularly monitored. Agnès Buzyn has also emphasized the fragility of people on neuroleptics, in psychiatric establishments or reserved for the elderly. As with children, professionals should ensure that they hydrate sufficiently.
How to protect yourself during a heat wave
As part of the heat wave plan, the health authorities are showing increased vigilance. They also provide some advice for everyone. To avoid heatstrokes, drinking regularly is recommended – without waiting to be thirsty. This hydration can be supplemented by the use of misters and other devices to wet the body. All without depriving yourself of food and avoiding alcohol.
To limit the risk of overheating, sport should be avoided. In the same idea, it is better to book your outings during the cooler hours and spend several hours in a cool place. Keeping housing cool can be difficult but essential. For this, the Ministry of Health advises to leave windows and shutters closed during the day and to open them instead in the evening and at night if the temperatures drop.
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