Summary

• During this second heat wave of the summer of 2016, 43 departments across 8 regions were placed under an orange alert and 26 under a yellow alert by Météo-France.

• This second heat wave resulted in an increase in healthcare utilization for heat-related conditions nationwide and in the departments under an orange alert.

• People aged 75 and older were the most affected by heat-related illnesses during this second heat wave, both in terms of emergency room visits and hospitalizations (Figure 5).

• Emergency room visits for dehydration and hyponatremia primarily involved people aged 75 and older, while visits for hyperthermia/heatstroke were observed more frequently among children and adults under 75

To date, no reports related to this heatwave episode have been recorded.

A comprehensive review of all heatwave and extreme heat episodes from the summer of 2016 will be presented in the coming weeks.

This report illustrates that heat remains a major health risk in France, affecting all age groups and particularly the elderly.