Heat wave : the young people are also affected by the mortality

tomwang/epictura

Published the 02.08.2017 at 11: 55 am

A A

Keywords :

caniculechaleur

It is not only the elderly and the immunocompromised, and babies, among the victims of the heat wave. The heat wave that affected France in the month of June 2017 has caused many deaths among the 15-64 year-old population, usually spared in this type of events. In a review published on his website, the public Health agency France reveals amazing numbers relating to the last heatwave.

This resulted in 580 deaths, a balance sheet without common measure with that of the heat waves of 2003 and 2015. Indeed, the great heat wave of 2003, 4 to 18 August, had resulted in an excess mortality estimated at 15 000 people. The three episodes of high temperatures recorded during the summer of 2015 were, on the other hand, resulted in about 3,300 additional deaths.

6 % of extra mortality

It does not prevent. During the heatwave “early” and ” extended geographically “, that took place between the 17 and 25 June 2017, the health care agency has observed a 6% increase in mortality indicators.

However, this mortality has affected “more particularly the 15-64 year-olds,” notes the agency, which adds that there is “no significant excess mortality” among those 65 years and older, in contrast to the previous episodes.

“Several deaths – with a link is suspected with the heat – have been reported on the workplace of the person “, can we still read. The heat wave has also caused more than 3000 passages to the emergency room and 1460 consultations to SOS Physicians for conditions related to heat (heat stroke, dehydration, too low a concentration of sodium salt in the blood…).

A lack of information ?

If the most vulnerable are considered to be at-risk individuals, the pathologies related to the heat may occur in all the world. Young people may not be aware of this and take greater risks than older, which may explain why the mortality recorded in this layer of the population.

June ranked as the second-largest month of June, the hottest since 1900, with an average temperature exceeding 2.5°C normal, behind June 2003, according to Météo-France.