Mercury climbs, cicadas sing, but carelessness is no longer in order. Since August 8, the Mediterranean has lived to the rhythm of an intense heat wave, the 51e Heat wave recorded in France since 1947. Over the days, temperatures flirt with 40 ° C, the land is drying up and the atmosphere is suffocating. Between dangers of growing fires and weakened health, especially for the older ones, summer 2025 requires maximum vigilance. Here is how to organize, act concretely and protect what is dear to us when the heat stirs up all risks.
The heat wave strikes the Mediterranean: Adopt the right reflexes to avoid the worst
Prevent fire starts: Each gesture counts in front of the flames
A simple badly extinct megot, a spark on a dry path … It is enough to transform a peaceful afternoon into a nightmare. The risk of fire reaches very high levels in August: the Vaucluse, the Gironde, the South West, the Var, the Aude or the Bouches-du-Rhône are on maximum alert. The prolonged heat and drought increase the threat, making every gesture of the crucial daily life to preserve forests, villages, and lives.
Avoid risky activities and Strengthen surveillance in sensitive zone
During a heat wave period, In no case should devices produce sparks (brushcutters, chainsaws, coal barbecue) outdoors, especially near wood, pine -sodes and garrigues. It is strictly forbidden to throw buttseven turned off, on the ground. Wild camp fires and barbecues are prohibited. The slightest relaxation may be enough to trigger a difficult fire to master.
The presence of looks, the use of citizen surveillance (neighbors, warned walkers), and strict compliance with local instructions are more than ever necessary. Keep in mind that prevent a fire departureis to avoid an environmental, natural and human disaster often irreversible.
Maintain and secure your environment to stop fire before he takes
If you live or stay near wooded areas, The maintenance of your land is crucial. Regularly cleare the surroundings of the house, eliminate dead leaves, branches and dry herbs. Maintain an area without fuel vegetation over several meters around the dwellings. Store wood and flammable materials away from all construction. Communities recall that these measures, compulsory in many municipalities, slow down the progress of a fire and protect goods as the inhabitants.
An essential element: In the event of a suspicious fire or smoke, the alert must be given immediately by dialing 112 or 18. The reactivity and clarity of the report can save hectares of vegetation … and human lives.
Protect yourself from extreme heat: concrete solutions to stay safe
The heat wave is not just a question of passenger discomfort. When the thermometer exceeds 38 ° C for several days, the risk of heat strokes, dehydration and cardiac complications increases considerably – Seniors, children and fragile people are the most exposed. Providing, adapting and acting at each level becomes a vital routine for all.
Adapt your habits and develop your Housing to gain freshness
During periods of high heat, every detail counts to preserve your comfort:
- Keep doors and windows closed all day; Only only in the evening or at night so as not to let the warmth enter.
- Leave the shutters closed or use blinds To filter solar radiation.
- Arrange wet cloths in front of the windows During the day, use water foggers or judiciously (without worsening dehydration).
- Drink very regularly : favor water, 1 to 2 liters daily per adult, even without feeling of thirst.
- Avoid physical efforts In the hottest hours, particularly between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Prefer a light diet : raw vegetables, seasonal fruits, cold dishes.
Even without air conditioning, These small gestures decrease the interior temperature of several degrees And make all the difference to support the intensity of the heat.
Take care of seniors, the most vulnerable in the face of high temperatures
With age, The body is less resistant to dehydration and extreme heat. Certain disorders (heart problems, taking diuretic drugs) and the decrease in the feeling of thirst further increases the risk. Here is the essential to monitor:
- No social isolation: Call, visit, check that the person hydrates correctly.
- Increased monitoring In the event of loss of appetite, unusual fatigue, confusion, excessive heat at home: these symptoms are alert signs.
- Daily organization assistance: Race delivery, adaptation of exit schedules, pharmacy support or doctor if necessary.
The Towl towl towling Info Service (0 800 06 66 66) Stay active every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for any information or advice request.
Learn and act together: The key to a summer under control
To go through this bang -up period under tension, Informing in real time becomes a life buoy. Meteorological bulletins, prefectural or municipal alerts and SMS alert messages are to be consulted daily.
Monitor alerts and know React quickly in the event of a fire
When the level of danger climbs to “high” or “very high”, All risky activities must be suspended. Avoid hikes and walks in the great outdoors in sensitive forest areas. Give particular vigilance to the slightest smell of suspect burned or smoke.
In the event of a fire or event alert, Stay shelter, follow the official instructions And help your loved ones do the same. In the event of evacuation, prepare in advance water, important papers, loaded telephone and first aid kit to save precious time.
Mobilize local solidarity to limit human and environmental consequences
During periods of heat wave and forest fires, mutual aid between neighbors, families and associations makes the difference. Report any isolated people, relay the instructions of the local authorities. Communities often organize points of freshness (town halls, municipal halls) and mobile teams to help the most vulnerable.
The periods of crisis test the cohesion of our territories : collectively, we can limit dramas and protect the environment, heritage such as social fabric. Preventing, monitoring and acting without delay constitutes a shared responsibility with immediate effects.
Organize today, It is to remain master of his summer despite the threats
Faced with a historic heat wave and the risks of unpublished fires, alertness is the best of the protections. This summer, around the Mediterranean, Adopting the right gestures every day makes it possible to preserve the health of the most fragile and to avoid the worst for our environment. The question is no longer to know if the risk exists: it is there, well present and amplified by the exceptional weather conditions of 2025. But it is collectively, by inquiring and acting with rigor, that everyone can keep their hands on their daily life.
These trials remind us of the crucial importance of our ability to adapt to an increasingly extreme climate reality. The current challenge is to reconcile summer pleasure, security and solidarity in the face of climate upheavals, a challenge that we must take up together.