Heat waves

During the summer, temperatures can rise significantly.

Exposure to extreme heat affects our bodies and poses numerous health risks. Seniors, infants, children, adults, pregnant women, workers, athletes… we’re all at risk! It’s important to protect yourself, even when the heat wave is short-lived.

To prepare for heat waves, Santé publique France reminds everyone of some simple tips to follow.

• Drink water regularly without waiting until you’re thirsty;

• Cool off and wet your body (at least your face and forearms) several times a day;

• Keep your home cool (close windows and shutters during the day, open them in the evening and at night if it’s cooler);

• Eat enough and avoid alcohol;

• Go outside during the coolest hours of the day, and if it’s hot at home, spend several hours a day in a cool place (movie theater, public library, supermarket, museum, etc.) while following safety guidelines to protect yourself from COVID-19;

• Avoid physical exertion;

• Remember to check in regularly with your loved ones and, whenever necessary, don’t hesitate to ask for help;

When driving and on long trips:

• Never leave anyone alone in a car, especially a child, as the temperature inside the vehicle can rise very quickly;

• If possible, schedule your trip for cooler times of day;

• Remember to bring water and a spray bottle when traveling by car;

• Stop regularly to rest and cool off: some highway rest areas have water fountains or misting stations available for your use

Whether you’re on vacation or at work—at the beach, in the mountains, in the countryside, or even in the city—make sure to protect yourself from the sun so you can keep enjoying it

We all want to enjoy a sunny day, and we need sunlight to help our bodies produce vitamin D. However, it’s important to make the most of the sun safely and to know how to protect yourself from it to safeguard your skin and eyes.

In mainland France, the sun’s UV rays are strongest between noon and 4 p.m. from early April to late September; in the overseas departments and regions (DROM), they are strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. During these hours, the sun can be strong enough to damage the cells in your skin and eyes. Be very careful to protect your skin, especially if you burn easily.

To make the most of the sun, Santé publique France reminds you of these simple tips, which everyone can follow, to enjoy the sun safely:

1/ Stay in the shade, especially between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. in mainland France and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the French overseas departments and regions (DROM) whenever the UV index is above 3.

For daily UV index forecasts, you can consult the Météo-France forecast map (metropolitan France and overseas territories)

2/ If you go out between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., don’t forget to wear:

• clothing that covers your skin (a T-shirt or shirt with sleeves and a hem that reaches at least below the knee),

• a wide-brimmed hat,

• sunglasses with wraparound frames and UV-filtering lenses (CE standard, category 3 or 4).

Shade and clothing are the most effective ways to protect your skin.

3/ Finally, for exposed areas, apply sunscreen generously. Reapply it regularly, or as soon as you get out of the water.

Sunscreen should not be used to stay in the sun longer, but it can be useful for protecting parts of the skin not covered by clothing or if you cannot stay in the shade.

Never expose babies under the age of 2 to the sun. Sun exposure during childhood is the leading cause of skin cancer in adulthood.

Pregnant women should be especially careful in the sun, as exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin hyperpigmentation (the “pregnancy mask” or a brown line on the belly).

4/ Finally, avoid tanning lamps or tanning beds, as they are known to damage the skin and eyes.

Here is some additional information to go along with these simple steps:

• Vitamin D is produced very quickly by the skin when exposed to direct sunlight; You do not need to increase your sun exposure to maintain your vitamin D levels. The WHO recommends exposure of less than 15 minutes for fair skin to 1 hour for dark skin before noon and after 4 p.m. in geographic areas such as mainland France, which is generally sufficient to produce the necessary amount of vitamin D.

• Skin tanning is a protective reaction of the skin against damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or intense artificial UV sources (such as tanning beds). Thus, tanned skin indicates that skin cells have been damaged by the sun: tanning is not good for our health.

• Among cancers, cutaneous melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) is one of the most common cancers among adults under 40. It is one of the cancers with the highest increase in incidence among men in recent years (+3.4% on average per year between 2010 and 2018), and also among women (+2.4%).

Accidental Drownings: All Ages and All Locations Are at Risk

Whether at the beach, in a river, lake, or pool, summer is the perfect time for swimming and water activities. But every summer, accidental drownings result in hundreds of hospitalizations and an average of nearly 4 deaths per day. In France, according to the results of the 2018 NOYADES survey, between June 1 and September 30, 2018, 1,649 accidental drownings were recorded, 25% of which resulted in death. Children under 6 accounted for 28% of accidental drownings and 9% of deaths, while people aged 65 and older accounted for 22% of accidental drownings and 35% of deaths.

Most drownings are preventable. Swimming carries risks at all ages. It is important to teach children to swim as early as possible or at least to get them accustomed to the aquatic environment, and it is never too late to learn to swim, even as an adult. Regardless of the swimming location, a child must always be under constant supervision and closely monitored by a single responsible adult; ideally, the adult should swim with the child. Adults should take their health into account: do not swim if you feel unwell (fatigue, health issues, chills), do not overestimate your physical condition or swimming ability, avoid alcohol consumption, and enter the water gradually, especially after prolonged sun exposure. It is also necessary to consider the swimming environment, especially in rivers, lakes, and the ocean; to check weather conditions; and, in general, to follow safety guidelines, swimming restrictions, and to swim only in supervised areas marked by swimming flags.

Summer is often a great time for outdoor activities and walks. For those who enjoy forest walks and hikes, campers… Be careful of ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis to humans through the bite of an infected tick. Ticks are widespread throughout France and live in wooded and damp areas, tall grass in meadows, and forest and urban parks. They are most active between April and November.

To avoid being bitten by a tick, the best prevention is to protect yourself by wearing long, closed-neck, light-colored clothing (to spot them more easily) and a hat for young children. Whether you’re a professional or an outdoor enthusiast, be prepared!

In France, in 2018, an estimated 68,530 people were affected by the disease (Sentinelles network).

Lyme disease and tick bite prevention