2023-08-19 04:00:18
Lyon city center, Friday August 18. In the middle of the afternoon, a septuagenarian is struggling in the Lafayette pharmacy. Breathless, “because of the long Covid”, she says. She wants some advice for coping with the heat wave, a place to find a bit of freshness. The pharmacist tells her about a nearby retirement home that can accommodate her. There she goes again in the city crushed by the heat, pale under the blazing sun.
“Patients in difficulty are increasing. Many come for a persistent headache. I constantly advise to stay hydrated, I tell the elderly that it is absolutely necessary to avoid going out in the afternoon”, testifies Ingrid Paradis. According to this pharmacist, “the heat is starting to take effect”. Sales of food supplements against dehydration or disturbed sleep increased by 10% compared to summer 2022 in the network of 300 Lafayette pharmacies in France. Precursor signals?
The situation is tense but under control, without alarming symptoms. At least for now. This is essentially the picture of health services in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, described by the management of establishments, as a period of heavy heat sets in and a suspicion of resumption of Covid-19 arises. makes you feel.
After four departments concerned last week, the twelve departments of the second region of France are now placed in heat wave orange vigilance. The next eight days promise to be challenging, with nighttime temperatures also on the rise. In Lyon, Monday August 21, the thermometer could reach 41 ° C during the day and 25 ° C at night, according to forecasts by Météo-France. This would exceed the heat record of 40.5°C recorded on August 13, 2003.
The authorities want to be reassuring, the staff are worried
“We have not seen any serious cases directly linked to the heat wave in our emergency services. The effect of heat can occur after several days. All health professionals are mobilized”, says Anne Roux, director of general affairs and communication at the Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL). The Lyon hospitals have set up cooled spaces, with air conditioners, fans and misters in the rooms and corridors, as well as adapted menus and the systematic dissemination of good practices. “We are making an effort to anticipate to avoid an overheating situation”says Anne Roux.
“For the moment, we are not seeing any traffic jams in the emergency room. We have not recorded a significant increase in admissions related to climatic conditions. Elderly people risk repercussions after several days”, says with caution Charles-Henry Guez, vice-president of the Union of liberal doctors and the Regional Union of health professionals of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Lyon’s emergency services record an average of 400 visits per day, compared to 380 in August 2022. A slight increase which encourages vigilance.
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