In previous decades, heat peaks of 35 ° C occurred in France about ten days a year. But now, this symbolic bar is crossed 30 to 40 days in the year. The consequences on the health of seniors are significant.

Météo-France on Thursday placed 45 departments in orange heat wave vigilance and the very hot weather should last several days. The consequences on health, particularly for seniors, are not neutral. According to Professor Jean-Louis San Marco, a public health doctor, vulnerability to heat begins at age 65 in women, and 75 in men.

>> READ ALSO - Heatwave and coronavirus: what are the right actions to adopt and those to ban?

Each heat wave weakens seniors a little more

He insists: during a heat peak, the risk is to die. For people who no longer sweat, there is however a simple solution: "it consists of wetting your skin, preferably with a sprayer, on the hands and forearms, to have a myriad of droplets", explains the doctor. "For this evaporation to take place properly, you make a draft. It replaces the perspiration."

>> READ ALSO - Heatwave: how to adapt cities to high temperatures?

With these heat waves which multiply, they are the most fragile, who risk succumbing if they do not respect these simple gestures. Like a mille-feuille, each new heat wave will weaken another layer of the senior population.