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How to limit the Heat Wave effects on Health?

The heat wave can have adverse health effects. It is therefore important to protect yourself well. Certain measures need to be taken, especially for those most at risk.

How to limit the impact of the Heatwave?

Heatwaves, or high temperatures, can have significant health impacts on all of us. However, special attention should be paid to people who are frail because of their age, medical condition (drug treatments that enhance the effects of heat or disrupt the body’s thermal adaptation) or life event (pregnancy), or due to excessive exposure to heat in schools or due to working, living, behavioral or environmental conditions.

Heat waves can result in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths. It is therefore important not to wait for warning signs to appear, such as: B. the absence of urine for 5 hours or dark urine, sweating when drinking a glass of water, cramps , tiredness or headache to start preventive measures.

Tips and simple measures to protect against excessive heat 

The prevention advice applies to everyone and especially for people who are weakened because of their age, medical condition (drug treatments that increase the effects of heat or interfere with the body’s adaptation to heat) a life event (pregnant women) or from excessive exposure to heat due to work, life, behavioral or environmental conditions (athletes, workers, occupants of homes exposed to intense heat, etc.).

  • Drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty;
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Keep cool
  • Avoid going out during the hottest hours
  • Avoid physical exertion during the hottest hours
  • Keep your home cool

During the day, shutters and glazing should be kept closed on the sunny side. Their double obstacle limits the heat input into the room. Open on the shady side if draft allows. In this case, hang a damp towel so that evaporation cools the atmosphere. If it is not possible to create drafts with the only shaded windows, keep them closed.

As soon as the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature: open the shutters and windows wide to cool the accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be cooled, go to a cool place (library, cinema, shops, cold room, etc.)

When traveling by car:

  • Plan enough water for each trip
  • Never leave a person, especially a child, alone in the car, not even for a short time

At high temperatures, certain medications can alter the body’s defense mechanisms. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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