One heat surge is an episode characterized by intense heat, short duration (over 1 to 2 days), or high temperatures that persist over time. An episode of heat wave is very hot during the day and night at least 3 consecutive days. Find on the website of the Ministry of Health the main information on the health effects of Heat waves and their definitions.

Adopt the right reflexes!

Exposure to extreme heat poses a significant health risk for everyone, especially for the most vulnerable: the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, or those taking certain medications and those who are precarious. Simple actions can help prevent serious accidents, such as dehydration or heatstroke. Do not hesitate to take all precautions before the first signs of bodily suffering, even if they seem insignificant to you!

The main heat-related disorders are fatigue, which can cause dizziness, malaise, muscle cramps, and dehydration. Other symptoms may include constipation, weight loss, and low blood pressure and tachycardia. The most serious risk is heatstroke, which can result in death.

With heat, the body has difficulty regulating its temperature and other symptoms may appear: hot, red and dry skin, headache, nausea, drowsiness, unusual aggressive behavior.

Protect yourself by taking the following actions:

• keep cool;
• Drink water and choose jelly or sparkling water for people who drive on the wrong side of the road.
• avoid drinks with high caffeine content such as coffee, tea or high sugar content such as sodas;
• wet your body;
• Close shutters and windows.
• focus on soft activities;
• eat fresh and balanced food;
• avoid alcohol;
• hear from the most vulnerable;
• if you feel unwell, call 15.

It is also important to monitor your diet. Eat enough, in fractions during the day if necessary and eat in a balanced way favoring food rich in water (fruits, raw vegetables, cold soups, compotes, etc.). Finally, avoid eating or drinking frozen products.

Keep your accommodation cool

Here are some recommendations to keep your home cool:

• During the day, close the shutters as soon as the sun hits the window or before going to work in the morning. Also close the windows as soon as the outside temperature exceeds that of your home. If your home has multiple exposures, keep the windows closed on the sun's side and open on the shaded side if it allows drafts.
• To cool the rooms, by evaporation of water, you can hang a damp cloth in front of an open window on the shaded side.
• Open the windows at night and create air vents to remove the heat stored inside.
• Use fans and misters. You can place an ice pack or a bag of ice cubes in front of a fan.
• Avoid operating appliances that produce heat: hotplates, oven...

You can also place heat-resistant films on the windows, they can repel up to 90% of the solar radiation before it enters the interior of the rooms.