Precautions to take for summer

Summer, synonymous with sun, holidays and joy, must be approached with caution. This season involves various risks that can harm your health. It is therefore essential to anticipate them!

Here are some general rules to incorporate to reduce the risks associated with summer.

• Drink water regularly without waiting until you are thirsty.
• Cool down and wet your body several times a day.
• Keep your home cool: close windows and shutters during the day, open them in the evening and at night if it is cooler.
• Eat enough, even if you are less hungry because of the heat, and avoid drinking alcohol.
• Go out preferably early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooler. If your home is too hot, spend several hours a day in a cool place (cinema, municipal library, supermarket, museum, etc.).
• Avoid excessive physical exertion.
• If you are an isolated person, register on the municipal register of your town hall. This register allows you to locate isolated people who may be in difficulty, particularly in the event of a heatwave, in order to offer them appropriate assistance if necessary.

If you have a car ride , turn on the air conditioning and if you don't have any here are some tips:  

• If possible, shift your journey to cooler hours.  
• Remember to bring water and a spray bottle with you on the journey.  
• Stop regularly to rest and refresh yourself  

UV risks:

While we enjoy being in the sun and need sunlight to make vitamin D, it is crucial to do so safely and know how to protect yourself.

In metropolitan France, UV rays are most intense between 12pm and 4pm from the beginning of April to the end of September; in the French overseas departments and territories, it is between 11am and 3pm. During these periods, the sun can be strong enough to damage the cells of your skin and eyes, hence the importance of protecting yourself.

Here are some tips:

• Stay in the shade, especially during the hottest hours  
• If you go out between 12pm and 4pm, don't forget to wear: covering clothing (t-shirt or shirt with sleeves and bottoms reaching below the knee at least) or wear sunscreen, a hat/cap and sunglasses with a good UV filter.  
• Apply sunscreen as soon as you go outside.  
• Pregnant women should be especially careful in the sun because exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause skin hyperpigmentation (a brown line on the belly).  

For the production of vitamin D there is no need to expose yourself to the sun for more than 15 minutes per day.  

But also:  

• Dizziness, vertigo, impaired consciousness
• Nausea, vomiting
• High body temperature
• Thirst and headache
• Incoherent speech
• Loss of balance, loss of consciousness and/or convulsions

What to do if these symptoms occur?  

• Call for medical assistance immediately by dialing 15.
• While waiting for help to arrive, begin cooling down: place the person in the shade, cool them down by spraying them with cold water and fanning them, or give them a cold shower or a cool bath.
• In case of heat stroke, do not take medication to reduce fever or relieve pain without medical advice.

 

Precautions for women specifically:

• Preferably wear cotton underwear to allow the skin to breathe and avoid the risk of urinary and vaginal infections.
• Wear suitable sanitary protection (e.g. tampons or menstrual cups for aquatic activities)
• If you wear a wet swimsuit for too long, remember to change it as soon as possible to avoid fungal and bacterial infections.
• For pregnant women, follow all advice regarding heat, make sure to have good blood circulation (raise your legs, do not sit in the same position for too long, wear comfortable shoes, wear support stockings if necessary)

Protect yourself for a healthy summer!