The elderly are not the only ones particularly fragile in the heat wave.
Toddlers can also suffer greatly from strong heat, such as that which is beating down on France this weekend.
12 departments have been placed on red alert, and 25 others on orange.
The thermometer could reach 40 degrees this Saturday afternoon in the Paris region.
🌡️#VaguedeChaleur 🧐
Decryption of this episode with @FGourand, forecaster at Météo-France.
➡️ Follow the evolution of the situation: https://t.co/SBcDaJ3wuk pic.twitter.com/jDWiMCZUff
— Meteo-France (@meteofrance) June 17, 2022
So how do you prevent baby from becoming dehydrated or getting heatstroke, materialized by fever, pale skin or even unusual restlessness?
Obviously, it is better to avoid going out when the mercury is at its maximum.
"We stay at home when it's 40 degrees, but we go for a walk early in the morning", summarizes Professor Robert Cohen, pediatrician.
“For babies and young children, it is better to avoid travel.
But if you can't do otherwise, you have to cover them with light and long clothes, ”said Clarisse Lenoble, gynecologist-obstetrician in Paris, in 2019.
Drink water
If you decide to take the stroller out in the morning, do not hesitate to "wet the baby's face and exposed parts of the body a little with a mist sprayer, but also put a hat on him, especially if he is exposed to sun”, details Robert Cohen.
It goes without saying, but you should never leave a baby alone in the car, even for a short time.
Another tip: offer your child to drink water.
“Like an elderly person who does not think about it, a baby will never say that he is thirsty.
You always have to remember that a bottle is 90% water, so we can offer a little more”, develops the pediatrician.
At home, there are no surprises.
As with adults, keep the air in the house as fresh as possible.
Clarisse Lenoble also recommends “placing wet linen in front of the windows and next to the pram”.
For clothes, young mothers often have in mind to make their baby wear an extra layer of clothing than they do.
But during a heat wave, a single thickness can obviously be enough.