As climate change makes heat waves more frequent, earlier, and more intense, it is becoming essential to plan ahead and adapt in our daily lives. To support this shift, Santé publique France launched a new initiative in 2024—www.vivre-avec-la-chaleur.fr—which offers simple advice and tips on how to prepare for living with higher temperatures in order to protect your well-being and health. Designed as a tool for sustainable adaptation, this initiative aims to promote the right habits ahead of heat waves, relying on concrete, accessible solutions tailored to daily life.

To raise awareness of “Living with the Heat” among as many people as possible and thereby embed these best practices, Santé publique France is launching a multi-platform information campaign from May 17 through the end of August: radio spots, sponsorship of weather programs, digital content, social media presence, and engagement with influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Promoting safe habits before the heat wave even hits

While the steps to take during a heat wave are generally well known, they are not followed by a large portion of the population who do not consider themselves at risk.

Yet heat affects everyone’s health: unusual fatigue and loss of concentration are the first signs of heat exposure and can affect anyone.

Anticipation is key. Preparing before temperatures rise allows you to better protect yourself and gradually incorporate the right habits into your daily routine. It is with this in mind that Santé publique France has developed “Living with the Heat”: an initiative focused on proactive adaptation and education, featuring practical, clear, and easily applicable content.

Staying cool, adjusting your physical activities, or even adapting your home to maintain a comfortable temperature... Simple steps, supported by positive messages, accessible to everyone, to effectively cope with heat waves over the long term.

Tips and advice for establishing new daily habits before the first heat waves

The website www.vivre-avec-la-chaleur.fr aims to help everyone prepare in advance for rising temperatures by offering simple, practical content to help adapt daily routines.

With articles, educational videos, and more, the site offers a wide range of resources accessible to everyone, providing solutions for all—even in the most common situations: living in a poorly insulated apartment, finding cool places to stay (especially with children during hot weather), and participating in outdoor sports…

These topics address concrete needs identified by studies: 1 in 5 people report suffering from the heat at home, and athletes frequently underestimate the effects of heat on their bodies^[1;2].

Developed in collaboration with experts from INSEP (for sports-related advice) and ADEME (for housing), this content is organized around two key themes:

• housing: how to maintain a comfortable temperature at home without air conditioning? What are effective ways to use a fan? How can you smartly add plants to your balcony or yard to create a cooler environment?

• sports: which sports should you prioritize when it’s hot? At what time of day should you exercise? What precautions should you take (hydration, duration of activity, and recovery)? What warning signs should prompt you to adjust your effort?

The goal: to adapt before the heat wave sets in, without disrupting your lifestyle, but by incorporating the right habits into your daily routine starting now.

A communication campaign designed to reach as many people as possible

This campaign marks a paradigm shift in the prevention of heat-related risks.

It prioritizes a positive approach, centered on well-being and the immediate benefits of the recommended actions: comfort, sleep, quality of life, productivity at work…
To reach a broad segment of the population, particularly those most at risk (urban dwellers, young people, those in precarious situations, seniors), the campaign features:

• two radio spots (housing, sports)

• a presence on weather TV segments (contextualized spots)

• an enhanced digital strategy (search engine optimization, social media)

• partnerships with influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube