France heatwave strains hospitals, public services and sparks cooling initiatives

A historic heatwave has swept France, with temperatures soaring to 40 °C in the Bas‑Rhin and night‑time lows remaining above 30 °C. Fifty departments were placed on red‑alert warnings, prompting the activation of emergency plans in many regions.

Hospitals are under extreme pressure: the AP‑HP reported an 80 % rise in emergency calls, the Parisian “plan blanc” was triggered, and staff describe corridors filled with stretchers. Lack of air‑conditioning in many facilities has led to reports of maternity rooms reaching 42 °C and an increase in heat‑related health problems such as blood‑thickening, strokes and deep‑vein thromboses.

The heatwave is also affecting public life. Cinemas and shopping centres see record attendance as people seek refuge, while Paris has opened a monitored 100‑metre stretch of the Canal Saint‑Martin for free swimming. Parks such as the Buttes‑Chaumont remained open through the night, providing cool outdoor spaces. In the National Assembly, the Ecologist group complained that air‑conditioning was prioritised for the hemicycle while staff work in offices exceeding 34 °C.

Experts stress that climate‑adapted cooling is no longer a luxury but a public‑health necessity, urging stronger building regulations and the wider deployment of efficient air‑conditioning systems.