Health: what precautions should be taken in the event of a heatwave ?

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Exceptional by the intensity of the heat during a certain duration, heat waves are nevertheless becoming more and more regular. How to approach them in order to best prepare for them ? This is not the only risk linked to the climate during the summer: summer storms can also have a significant impact. Here, we come back to some advice to put into practice to better prevent these hassles related to a weather that is going crazy.

How to protect yourself from a heatwave ?

General advice to protect yourself beforehand and during a heatwave

Except in particularly unexpected cases, most of the time, we know in advance when a heatwave is likely to arrive. It is therefore important to take some arrangements in advance, so as not to find yourself completely helpless in the face of the situation. It is therefore recommended to organize yourself with family to stay in contact every day in order to prevent cases of loss of consciousness without anyone to help. Ask your doctor for advice if you are afraid of extreme heat.

When the heat wave is here, a whole bunch of general advice must be taken into account absolutely, whatever your age or physical condition. Thus, drink water regularly, wet your body and find a simple way to ventilate yourself. By following these three tips, you should get through it without any problem, even if the heat may still be exhausting. It can also be discussed that it is necessary to ban all forms of alcohol.

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Also, make sure to keep your house or apartment cool, by closing the shutters and windows during the day and opening them at night for example, if the air outside is less warm in the evening. However, if the heat becomes difficult to bear at home, try to spend time in a cool, air-conditioned place (for example, a cinema, a library or even a supermarket). This will allow you to take a break from the heat for a while.

If you are looking after a child or baby

This is one of the main fears of the heatwave: we fear for others, especially the weakest people. There are the elderly of course, but also infants, babies and children. The heat exposes children to dehydration, which can worsen over time. So try to follow these tips to better keep them safe.

First, try to keep children in a cool environment, even if it means undressing them completely, leaving them in diapers or underwear. Also offer them baths during the day. This goes without saying, but never leave your children alone in an overheated place (and especially not in a car in direct sunlight, for example…).

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It is also best to avoid taking them out during the hottest hours of the day. Offer them fresh water from the fridge on a regular basis, and pay attention to their behavior. If they seem more tired than usual or often stare into space, check with your doctor.

If you are an elderly person

The elderly are among those most affected by heat waves, and for good reason: they have a little less autonomy than younger adults. It is therefore necessary for them to spend several hours a day in a cool or air-conditioned place, and to regularly wet their bodies in order to lower their body temperature. Obviously, it is necessary for them to drink water regularly to avoid dehydration.

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Finally, and this is the most difficult advice to follow in case of extreme heat in an elderly person: it is necessary that she eats enough. The mineral salts in food are essential for the proper functioning of the body, especially in very hot weather.

How to protect yourself from a summer storm ?

How to prepare in advance ?

Like heat waves, summer storms are generally predictable in advance. However, they differ in one way: they last much less time, but can have disastrous material consequences. It is therefore necessary to prepare well in advance. So when a storm is forecast, take these small, simple steps that can make a difference.

In your garden and outdoors, the best thing is to protect everything. First, check that your mesh and barrier are secure, pull your car into your garage if you have one, prune any trees that could threaten your home if they fall and bring your animals into the shelter.

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Indoors, start with < strong>close all doors, windows and even your shutters in the event of a very strong storm. Check that there is no risk of flooding in your basement in the event of heavy rain, and if so: take any important possessions you may not want to lose upstairs. Also, pack long-life food and bottled water, as well as a small survival kit (with radios, lamps, and clothing) in case of a power outage, for example. Finally, unplug your electrical devices after charging your smartphone.

What to do during a storm?

When a storm hits, there is not much to do except stay inside. Under no circumstances should you go outside. Do not make any phone calls unless you absolutely have to (the lines must be kept clear for emergency services). Then, move away from the bay windows and turn off the power. All you have to do is wait until the storm stops.

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If you accidentally find yourself outside when a summer storm hits, find shelter as quickly as possible. If you don't see any buildings nearby, you can take refuge in a car with the windows tightly closed. And most importantly, stay away from waterways.

What to do after the storm ?

When the storm is over, there are still a number of actions to take before you are truly safe. First of all, stay away from particularly dangerous and disaster-stricken areas. If you see damaged or downed power lines, report them, but do not touch them.

Try to help people in difficulty as best you can, whether they are injured adults, children or elderly people. If injured, report the victims to emergency services but do not try to move them unless there is an immediate risk of further injury. Finally, inspect your surroundings: examine the walls, floors or doors of your home to see if there is a risk of your home collapsing or not.

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