As it does every year, from June 1 to August 31, Santé publique France coordinates the Heat Wave and Health Alert System in close collaboration with Météo-France. As part of this seasonal monitoring and during heat waves and periods of extreme heat, Santé publique France issues national and regional updates, including a summary of the health situation, recommendations, and prevention advice.France experienced two heatwave episodes this summer (July 17–21 and August 23–28, 2016) as well as several periods of high temperatures. Since Monday, August 29, all departments have been placed under a green heatwave alert by Météo-France.

This daily update includes a summary of the weather situation and its evolution, and presents the results of health surveillance at the national level and in the departments under a yellow, orange, or red heat wave 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 national daily update also contains 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. on the following website: http://vigilance.meteofrance.com.Following the heatwave that affected France from August 23 to 28, all departments have been placed under a green heatwave alert by Météo-France since Monday, August 29.

You can also view Santé publique France’s behavioral and prevention recommendations on the following website: http://www.inpes.sante.fr/10000/themes/evenement_climatique/canicule/canicule-agir.asp

Santé publique France reminds everyone of the simple precautions to take. It is important to protect yourself, even when the heat is short-lived.

Reminder of the 'Heat Wave and Health Alert System'

The Heat Wave and Health Alert System (SACS), established under the National Heat Wave Plan (NHP), 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.