Key Points

• The Hauts-de-France region experienced an initial heat wave that lasted for much of June 2023, though heat wave alert thresholds were not exceeded. A second episode occurred in early September, which was shorter in duration but exceeded the biometeorological alert thresholds observed in the Nord department. A significant impact on health was noted during these periods:

  • 251 SOS Médecins calls were recorded regionally for the iCanicule indicator, as well as 565 emergency room visits for the iCanicule indicator, 267 of which resulted in hospitalization. Use of emergency care accounted for 0.6% of daily SOS Médecins calls and 0.5% of daily emergency room visits. People aged 75 and older were more severely affected than those aged 15–74 during the September heatwave as well as over the entire period.

  • Across the two heatwave periods that particularly affected our region, 13.1% of observed deaths are estimated to be heat-related, with nearly two-thirds of these involving people aged 75 and older.

• Link to the infographic