Faced with the “Early and marked heatwave episode” that France is going through, the government activated this Thursday a toll-free “Heatwave info service” number, until the end of this heat wave, according to a press release from the Minister of Health. Health, Brigitte Bourguignon.
Operational since Thursday noon, this toll-free number (0800.06.66.66) can be reached from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (free call from a landline in mainland France) to “obtain advice to protect yourself and those around you, in particular the most fragile, and to adopt the right reflexes in case of high temperatures”.
If you feel unwell, call 15
It is therefore recommended to “drink water regularly and stay cool, do not drink alcohol, avoid exertion, especially during the hottest hours of the day, spend several hours a day in a cool place, eat sufficient quantity, remain extremely vigilant when swimming to avoid the risk of drowning, give and receive news from loved ones”.
In case of emergency or discomfort, it is recommended to call 15, recalls the Minister of Health in her press release.
23 departments on orange “heat wave” alert
The wave of very strong heat has hitherto affected the regions ranging from the South-West to the Pays-de-la-Loire, as well as the middle Rhône valley. Météo-France has, for the moment, activated the orange “heat wave” alert for 23 departments.
And, “the extension of the orange heat wave vigilance to other departments will be very likely on the map for this afternoon at 4 p.m.”, indicates its Thursday morning bulletin.
Temperature records for the month of June should be broken on Thursday and over the next few days.
The worst is yet to come with mercury which should panic again, crossing the 40°C mark locally on Friday. The heat is only expected to begin to subside on Sunday as stormy rains will cause temperatures to plummet.