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

Adopt the right reflexes!

Exposure to high temperatures poses a significant risk to the health of all and particularly to the most vulnerable: the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with disabilities or chronic diseases or those taking certain medications and people in precarious situations. Simple gestures help prevent serious accidents, such as dehydration or heat stroke. Do not hesitate to take all precautions before the first signs of physical suffering, even if they seem insignificant to you!

The main heat-related pathologies are fatigue that can lead to dizziness, malaise, muscle cramps, dehydration. Other symptoms such as constipation, weight loss or low blood pressure and tachycardia may occur. The most serious risk is heat stroke, which can lead to death.

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

Protect yourself by taking the following actions:

• stay cool;
• Drink water and prefer gelled water or sparkling water for people who make false roads;
• avoid high-caffeine beverages such as coffee, tea or very sweet beverages such as sodas;
• wet your body;
• close shutters and windows;
• favor gentle activities;
• eat fresh and balanced;
• avoid alcohol;
• take the most fragile news;
• in case of discomfort, call 15.

It is also important to monitor your diet. Eat enough, divided during the day if necessary and eat in a balanced way by favoring foods rich in water (fruits, crudity, vegetables, cold soups, compotes, etc). Finally, avoid eating or drinking ice cream.

Keep your home fresh

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 leaving for 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 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 circulation to evacuate the heat stored inside.
• Use fans and misters. You can place an ice pack or bag of ice cubes in front of a fan.
• Avoid operating appliances that produce heat: hotplates, oven...

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

The most vulnerable: register on the heatwave register

The heatwave register allows to identify on a communal file the people who wish to be helped in case of heatwave episodes. This is a service free and confidential. The mayor is required to establish and maintain this municipal register. The purpose of this file is to locate the most at-risk populations, who will be regularly contacted by the services of their city throughout the duration of the alert, in order to ensure that they do not need help. During these calls, the agents also recall the basic advice to avoid the risks of dehydration and to refresh themselves. If the person called does not respond, and the non-response is considered worrying, the Communal Center for Social Action (CCAS), responsible for these calls, can contact the municipal police who will move and who will be able to contact the firefighters as a last resort.

Certain categories of persons may register on this register, provided that they reside at home :

• persons aged 65 and over;
• persons over 60 years of age found unfit for work;
• adult persons with disabilities;
• the most vulnerable people (isolated, under medical treatment, pregnant women…).

The application for registration must be completed or by the person concerned (or its legal representative) or by a third party (the person's entourage or service working with them).

To find out the exact terms and conditions, ask your town hall.