On Thursday, August 25, Météo France issued an orange alert for 43 departments in Île-de-France (Paris and its inner suburbs, Yvelines, Essonne, Val-d'Oise, and Seine-et-Marne), Grand-Est (Aube, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meuse, and Ardennes), Hauts-de-France (Aisne, Nord, and Pas-de-Calais), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (Côte-d'Or, Nièvre, Jura, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, Territoire-de-Belfort, and Yonne), Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes (Charente, Creuse, Gironde, Landes, Vienne, and Haute-Vienne), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Allier, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, and Rhône), Centre (Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, and Loiret), Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées (Lot), and Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine (Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, and Vosges)

A large part of the country is also under a yellow alert (26 departments in Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire).

Minimum temperatures will be around 20°C and maximum temperatures around 36 to 38°C. The heat will be intense, particularly in urban areas, due to urban heat island effects. See "The Role of Urban Heat Islands in Excess Mortality Observed During Heat Waves"

Weather conditions on Thursday, August 25, are conducive to the development of an ozone pollution episode across France.

Santé publique France reiterates the simple precautions everyone should take—including those in good health—to best combat the effects of the heat.

It is important to protect yourself, even if you are in good health. The prevention guidelines naturally apply particularly to vulnerable individuals (people over 65, people with disabilities or those receiving home care, dependent individuals, pregnant women, young children, etc.) and to workers exposed to heat, who are at greater risk of complications.

Santé publique France reminds the public that it is important to protect yourself, even when the heat is short-lived, and all the more so when it occurs in regions unaccustomed to high temperatures.

• Drink water regularly without waiting until you are thirsty;

• Cool off and wet your body (at least your face and forearms) several times a day;

• Eat enough and avoid alcohol;

• Avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day and spend several hours a day in a cool place (movie theater, public library, supermarket, museum, etc.);

• Avoid physical exertion;

• Keep your home cool (close windows and shutters during the day; open them in the evening and at night if it’s cooler);

• Be sure to check in with your loved ones regularly and, if necessary, don’t hesitate to ask for help;

• Check the Météo-France website regularly for updates.

In anticipation of these high temperatures, the "Canicule" (Heat Wave) information hotline, accessible at 0800 06 66 66, has been activated by the Directorate General for Health for the entire country (free call from a landline in France, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) to answer questions and provide information on health recommendations to follow during periods of extreme heat.

During heat waves and periods of high temperatures, Santé publique France publishes a daily national update on its website

This daily update includes a summary of the weather conditions and their evolution, and presents the results of health monitoring at the national level and in the departments under a yellow, orange, or red heatwave alert. The analysis of the health situation is based on data from the SurSaUD® emergency and death surveillance system, in collaboration with partners from the OSCOUR® network (hospital emergency departments) and SOS Médecins associations. The daily national update also includes recommendations and reiterates prevention guidelines.

• Access the national daily updates

• View the health surveillance report on the June and July 2016 heatwave

For real-time information on weather conditions, you can consult the Météo-France alert map, which is updated at least twice daily at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.

You can also consult the behavioral and prevention recommendations from Santé publique France.

Reminder of the 'Heat Wave and Health Alert System'

The Heat Wave and Health Alert System (SACS), established under the National Heat Wave Plan (PNC), runs from June 1 to August 31. Activation of the National Heat Wave Plan’s alert levels is triggered when both the minimum and maximum biometeorological indices (IBM) are reached or exceeded on the same day. The IBM (min/max) values represent the average of the minimum and maximum temperatures forecast by Météo-France for the next three days (D, D+1, D+2). The main objective of this system is to prevent a significant impact of heat on public health by identifying alert thresholds based on daytime and nighttime temperatures above which the risk of death is likely to increase.