Key Points

• The summer of 2024 was 0.7°C warmer than normal, with regional variations, as the Mediterranean region was the most affected. According to Météo France, it ranks as the 8th hottest summer since 1900. In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the main heatwave occurred from July 28 to August 14. All departments were affected, particularly the Alpes-Maritimes (which also experienced a later episode in late August) and Vaucluse.

• Nationally, more than 17,000 emergency care visits related to the iCanicule composite health indicator (including cases of hyperthermia, dehydration, and hyponatremia) were recorded during the summer. Although all age groups were affected, people aged 75 and older accounted for more than half of the iCanicule-related visits to emergency rooms. More than 3,700 deaths were attributable to heat exposure across the entire summer (the entire surveillance period), representing more than 2% of all-cause mortality observed between June 1 and September 15. Specifically during heatwave episodes, more than 600 deaths were attributable to heat exposure, representing more than 10% of all-cause mortality observed during these episodes. More than three-quarters of these deaths involved people aged 75 and older.

• In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, nearly 2,000 emergency room visits (66% of which were followed by hospitalization) and 300 SOS Médecins interventions for the iCanicule indicator were recorded between June 1 and September 15, 2024. Approximately 10% of emergency room visits and hospitalizations following such visits, as well as 8% of SOS Médecins medical interventions for iCanicule, occurred during heatwave days. During these episodes, half of the emergency room visits and 60% of SOS Médecins interventions for iCanicule involved people aged 75 or older. This age group also accounted for nearly two-thirds of hospitalizations related to iCanicule. Over the course of the summer, an estimated 500 heat-related deaths occurred, 37% of which took place during heatwave episodes. Nearly three-quarters of these heat-related deaths involved people aged 75 and older.

• In collaboration with the College of General Practitioners (CMG), Santé publique France raised awareness among general practitioners about how to care for heat-vulnerable patients through a newsletter.

• The observed health impacts once again underscore the importance of implementing preventive measures to mitigate the effects of heat, not only during heat waves but throughout the summer, as well as the need for a strengthened strategy to adapt to climate change at both the national and regional levels.