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Heatwave: in 24 hours, 25 cardiac arrests were reported in Paris

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The Editor

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Since the beginning of the heatwave, calls to the emergency services have skyrocketed, and this afternoon, the first reports about the victims have come in: they are not reassuring. In Paris, in just 24 hours, 25 cardiac arrests have already been recorded...

For several days now, Paris has been suffocating under intense heat. With temperatures sometimes more than 18°C above seasonal averages, all Parisians are affected... But some more than others: seniors, young children, sick individuals, those with disabilities or obesity, and pregnant women are on the front lines.


“There are victims”

That’s what Paris mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, stated this Thursday on TF1. While vulnerable people make up the majority of the victims, there are now calls for those who are less vulnerable. For this reason, the elected official urges Parisians to change their habits and adopt preventive behavior. Additionally, the city of Paris has set up numerous measures to cope with the intense heat.

This morning, the Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and...The French Federation of Disabled People has shared the first figures: in 24 hours, 25 cardiac arrests were recorded in Paris, compared to 10 normally. The Orsan plan has just been activated. This is the emergency plan for health crises, already used during Covid-19. It will hopefully help free up beds more quickly, distribute patients across the country, bring in more caregivers, and most importantly, improve this situation.

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A Tough Situation to Handle

For healthcare professionals and firefighters, this situation is really complicated. Shortages of staff, equipment, time, and beds: they are overwhelmed. If they were already in stressful positions, the new guidelines leave no room for mistakes. As soon as one intervention ends, they must not waste a minute before taking on a new case. Sometimes, they even find themselves having to choose who to save…

And to make matters worse, there’s also a huge lack of resources. Firefighters are forced to respond with vehicles that aren’t suited to the situation. In hospitals, there aren’t enough beds and the temperature is hard to manage. So don’t wait…

It's time to take charge! Stay hydrated before you feel thirsty, close your curtains and/or blinds, try to avoid going outside during the hottest parts of the day, and walk in the shade.