Summary

• In June and July 2016, there were two heat waves and one heatwave episode, with 12 departments classified under an orange heatwave alert and 58 departments classified under a yellow heatwave alert by Météo-France.

• These episodes resulted in a moderate increase in healthcare utilization for heat-related conditions.

• People aged 75 and older were the most affected by heat-related illnesses during the heatwave.

• 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.

• Two heat-related deaths among workers were reported during the July 2016 heat wave.

An assessment of the impact in terms of mortality will be provided in the coming weeks.

This initial assessment illustrates that heat remains a major health risk in France, particularly for the elderly but also for children and workers.