“Everything is under control for vulnerable people”
Babies can lose up to three times more water than an adult. They are among the individuals at risk in case of high heat © Tim Douet
Pascal Blanchard is vice-president of the Métropole de Lyon in charge of health, the elderly and people with disabilities. As the thermometer burns in Lyon, he worries about the consequences for vulnerable people at a time of a shortage of nursing staff.
Lyon is one of the hottest cities in France. While the city is experiencing a heat wave episode, the Métropole de Lyon announced the publication of a map of cool islands during a press conference this Friday, June 17. Pascal Blanchard, vice-president of the Métropole de Lyon in charge of health, the elderly and people with disabilities, was present. He was able to answer questions from Lyon Capitale.
Lyon Capitale: Who are the people at risk?
Pascal Blanchard: These are of course the elderly, but also the disabled, or even pregnant women or breastfeeding women. Finally, there are the children. Babies can lose up to three times more water than an adult. They are therefore much more vulnerable to high temperatures like today. For the elderly, the problem is often a little different: some no longer feel the need, the feeling of thirst when they are becoming dehydrated. We must therefore be very vigilant and remind them of the importance of drinking water.
What are the devices in case of high heat?
We have fallen a lot since the historic heat wave of 2003. The law requires the protection of vulnerable people. All EPHADs in the Métropole, for example, are equipped with air conditioning. Today, at this point in the rise in temperatures, everything is under control for those at risk. We watch through the regional health agency (ARS), our houses in the Metropolis located throughout the territory, and the network of associations. Today we went to the orange alert stage, the second level of alert, when we are not even in summer. We are therefore going to give our network so that all people at risk are contacted and that, if they do not respond, our medico-social teams move physically. We also watch over slums and squats where there may also be people vulnerable to high heat.
Should we worry about the coming summer?
Yes, I fear that this scorching episode announces the premises of other sequences which could arrive in July and August, and which could be dramatic. The main problem stems from the lack of nursing staff. It’s not a mystery but we are sorely lacking in staff already as normal. The summer period, when caregivers take their holidays, could be really difficult if we do not look for solutions. Especially since we cannot create caregivers ex-nihilo who, let us remember, are vocational professions. I am surprised, moreover, that this subject is not put forward more in this period of legislative elections. The house is burning! We are understaffed and in the end it is the patients who will be affected.
See also: Map of Lyon Capitale of drinking water fountains in Lyon Metropolis
Protect yourself from the heat
To protect yourself during this episode of high heat, Public Health France offers some advice:
- Drink water regularly without waiting to feel thirsty;
- Cool down and wet your body (at least your face and forearms) several times a day;
- Eat enough and don’t drink alcohol;
- Avoid going out during the hottest hours and spend several hours a day in a cool place (cinema, municipal library, supermarket, museum…);
- Avoid physical exertion;
- Wear loose, light and light-coloured clothing and if you go out, protect yourself from the sun (glasses, hat, sunscreen);
- Keep your accommodation cool (close windows and shutters during the day, open them in the evening and at night if it is cooler).
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