A heat wave begins to sweep France. It should have its effects felt until at least the beginning of next week. A gradual and lasting increase in temperatures that brings sad memories to the 7,400 nursing homes in the area. In 2003, for example, the heat wave claimed 19,000 lives, including many elderly people. In addition, the establishments are already mobilized to face the suffocating heat of July 2022, as seen by BFMTV in a Montrouge nursing home.
Hobbyists and contests
It is both a matter of concretely translating the instructions that the Ministry of Health gives to nursing homes and of applying common sense measures to protect residents whose age leaves them especially helpless in the face of heat stroke.
Camille Anger, director of the Montrouge nursing home, also explains: “These are people who no longer have the feeling of thirst, the feeling of warmth. Our job is therefore to alert residents and of course to monitor “.
Surveillance that begins with a battery of precautions. In the bedrooms, the curtains are drawn, the blinds are closed, a fan is turned on near the bed. In each of these structures that welcome the elderly, care is taken to guarantee permanent access to air-conditioned rooms.
And the leisure offer is in tune with this caution. “We adapt with a musical quiz as they have a bit of music and brain activity, which avoids using what is motor”, illustrates Ghislaine, one of the nurses at the Montrouge Ehpad.
Food in the spotlight
Food is also of crucial importance. With hydration as a key word, as Chantal, who also works at the Hauts-de-Seine structure, points out: “We use gelled water, which works quite well. We also have ice cream in the fridge.”
Finally, since 2005, establishments are subject to the provisions of the blue plan enacted in the event of a health hazard or heat wave. The system aims to better mobilize available resources against the scourge and recommends in particular the acquisition of beneficial resources such as water bottles or nebulizers.
Source: BFM TV
