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The use of the last step of the "national plan" in the face of periods of heat is enough to alert the entire population: 20 departments have been placed in vigilance red heat wave by Météo France, Wednesday. This corresponds to both an exceptional weather event and a health alert justifying "maximum mobilization", according to the authorities. Europe 1 takes stock.
>>> Red vigilance concerns all the departments of Ile-de-France (Paris and the suburbs, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne and Val-d'Oise) and Hauts-de-France (Aisne, North, Oise, Pas-de-Calais and Somme), as well as Aube, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Loiret, Marne, Seine-Maritime and Yonne.
Have we ever been on red alert?
Yes, less than a month ago. The last step of this device, created in 2004 by Météo-France after the heat wave of 2003, was activated for the first time at the end of June, during the previous wave of strong heat. It had lasted a day and concerned Bouches-du-Rhone, Gard, Herault and Vaucluse.
But this time, the alert "will affect 20 million of our fellow citizens" and focuses on departments of northern France, "areas that are not accustomed to these hot weather," said the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn . The Météo-France warning bulletin is justified by the "exceptional peak of heat" expected Thursday on the northern regions of France, including "absolute records" possible at 42 or 43 ° C on the Center, the Ile-de-France and Champagne.
"Temperatures of 25-27 degrees at night and 42-43 degrees during the day, we have never experienced it, especially the population south of France", supports Europe 1 Professor Jérôme Salomon, Director General of Health.
What to expect?
"This situation is associated with severe drought and ozone pollution," says the forecasting agency in its newsletter. The Ministry of Health has therefore triggered level 4 "maximum mobilization" of the heat wave, which accompanies the red vigilance.
It involves a heat wave "exceptional" and "very intense", with the risk "of collateral effects in different sectors (drought, supply of drinking water, saturation of hospitals or funeral homes, power failure, forest fires, need arrangement of working time or of stopping certain activities ...) ". This situation triggers "the implementation of exceptional measures", with "maximum mobilization and coordination" between the different ministries concerned and local actors.
What are the measures to take?
At the level of the communities, the prefects of the departments placed in red vigilance can for example prohibit or limit the extent of certain events like sporting events or festivals. Instructions can also be distributed to day nurseries, recreation centers and holiday camps to cancel outings, sports activities and festive events. Some establishments may even have to close if the temperature in their premises is too high.
Faced with this unprecedented alert in France, everyone must feel concerned: redouble vigilance towards the most fragile and to oneself, even when one is well.
No one is safe from health risks at this level of heat. #Caniculehttps: //t.co/vpoYoLs6cb
Behavioral advice (drinking a lot of water, avoiding physical exertion, frequenting cool places, moistening your body, ventilating the night, etc.) are the same as for the orange vigilance departments, but with an insistence on the fact that they apply to everyone. "At a red level, any person, even young, even in full health, can have serious discomfort in case of outdoor activity," points Jerome Salomon.