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HEAT WEATHER – Fifteen departments have been placed on red alert due to heat wave, this Sunday, July 17. This third and final level on the vigilance scale weather report recommends that the inhabitants of the areas concerned observe “absolute vigilance” in the face of “dangerous phenomena of exceptional intensity”.
“The heat is growing, the heat wave is spreading over the country”, warned the public meteorological establishment, which expects to see many temperature records broken, especially in the west and south- west. Monday might be one of the hottest ever recorded in France.
Public sporting events banned in Morbihan
The meteorological service warns that “in some areas of the southwest, it will be a heat apocalypse” which might reach 44°C in places on Monday, followed by a “scorching night”. This is why it recommends that the inhabitants of the departments concerned (Charente, Charente-Maritime, Côtes-d’Armor, Dordogne, Finistère, Gers, Gironde, Ille-et-Vilaine, Landes, Loire-Atlantique, Lot-et-Garonne , Maine-et-Loire, Morbihan, Deux-Sèvres and Vendée) to follow his advice.
Several prefectures have taken specific measures following placing their territory on red alert. In the Dordogne to avoid firesthe authorities prohibit the use of fireworks until Tuesday midnight.
For its part, the prefecture of Morbihan prohibits public sporting events on the day of July 18, 2022 and access to the woods, forests and moors of 35 municipalities in the department “particularly exposed to the risk of forest fire”.
In the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, the “holding of any public, protest, festive, cultural, sporting or commemorative event, outdoors or in non-air-conditioned establishments open to the public, is prohibited from Monday July 18, 2022 to midnight and until Tuesday July 19, 2022 at midnight”. Fireworks displays are also prohibited during the same period.
In a press release, published this Sunday, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne indicates that the prefectures have activated, since the beginning of the week, the provisions of the ORSEC plan “health management of heat waves” are activated by the prefects. This is a program for the organization of relief at the departmental level, in the event of a disaster.
“The Prime Minister will ensure regular monitoring of the situation to guarantee the full mobilization of State services”, can also be read in the press release.
Hydration, wearing light clothing, etc.: advice for the heat wave
In addition, Météo France reminds the population, and more particularly the inhabitants concerned by the orange and red vigilance, to continue to drink water several times a day and to eat normally. People are also encouraged to wet their bodies “several times a day using an atomizer, a washcloth or by taking lukewarm showers or baths”. Météo France recommends not going out between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., the hottest hours. For people who have no choice but to move around, it is recommended to wear a hat and light clothing”.
Among the instructions recalled by Météo France, the inhabitants of the departments affected by the intense heat wave are invited to stay “in a cool or air-conditioned place for two to three hours a day, while continuing to respect physical distance and barrier gestures” in the face of Covid-19. It is also recommended to limit physical and sports activities. Ventilation of living spaces is recommended during the night, while during the day, shutters, curtains and windows must remain closed.
The population is also asked to be particularly vigilant towards elderly and fragile people, by checking in on them. In addition, to avoid vegetation fires, it is also requested to avoid “behaviours that can promote the start of fires (cigarette, barbecue, etc.)”.
See also on Le HuffPost: Faced with the heat wave and forest fires, Macron’s warning
