Key Points

• In early July, France experienced its third heat wave of the season. According to Météo-France, this severe heat wave, which began on July 6, is starting to subside from the west as thunderstorms move in.
• This heat wave, which occurred less than 10 days after the previous one, was less intense in Brittany compared to the one in June (Finistère and Côtes d’Armor did not reach the red alert level).
• A regional analysis of emergency care utilization shows an increase in the composite health indicator iCanicule1 (which includes cases of hyperthermia, dehydration, and hyponatremia) since the start of the heat wave. The number of emergency room visits and SOS Médecins calls for this indicator, as well as the associated activity shares, reached levels close to those seen during last May’s heatwave. This trend shows greater fluctuations than those observed during previous seasons’ heat waves. Changes in the monitored indicators revealed a greater impact in Finistère and Ille-et-Vilaine, as well as among people aged 75 and older.