Take the right steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during heat waves

The health risks associated with heat waves are increasing in France because climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency, early onset, and/or late onset, intensity, and duration of heat waves. They can have significant effects on everyone’s health, particularly that of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, isolated people, those with disabilities, those in precarious situations or who are homeless, people with pre-existing medical conditions, pregnant women, young children, and outdoor workers.

Individual and collective behaviors contribute to protecting the population, namely:

• staying in a cool or air-conditioned place;

• drink water before you feel thirsty;

• moistening and cooling the body several times a day;

• closing shutters and windows during the hottest hours of the day and when it is hotter outside than inside;

• eating fresh, balanced meals;

• avoid alcohol;

• check in on those who are most vulnerable.

For real-time information on weather conditions, particularly heat waves, Météo-France’s Weather Watch map is updated at least twice a day at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In addition, a "Heat Wave" information hotline is available and activated during heat waves (free call from a landline in France, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) to answer questions and inform everyone about the health recommendations to follow during periods of extreme heat.

Enhanced monitoring system for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

As it does every year, Santé publique France coordinates the Heat Wave and Health Alert System (SACS), in collaboration with Météo-France, to assess the health impact of heat on the population and provide decision-making support to authorities. This monitoring allows for the adaptation, as needed, of prevention and management measures implemented by all local stakeholders, particularly the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) and prefectures. This year, since the arrival of the Olympic Flame in the country and throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Météo-France has been closely monitoring weather conditions, particularly at all Olympic competition venues and their surrounding areas.

To anticipate any heat waves or extreme heat and implement prevention and management measures appropriate to the situation, a system for regularly reporting information to health and civil protection authorities, as well as to the Games organizer, Paris 2024, has been established. Paris 2024 also monitors the situation through its first-response teams to assess the impact of heat waves on Olympic venues and implement appropriate prevention and management measures.