Healthcare in a Heatwave: French Hospitals and Nursing Homes Feel the Heat

France is dealing with a serious health crisis after a powerful heatwave pushed temperatures close to 40°C (104°F) across the country. Hospitals became overcrowded, and mortuaries struggled to keep up with a sharp rise in deaths. France's national health agency counted about 1,000 more deaths than usual starting June 24, and experts say that number is likely to keep rising. The crisis has put a spotlight on how unprepared much of Europe is for extreme heat.

Most of the people who died were elderly. About 85 percent of the victims were aged 65 or older. Older adults are at higher risk because their bodies have a harder time cooling down in extreme heat. At least 40 more people in France also drowned after jumping into canals, rivers, and lakes to escape the scorching temperatures.

Even funeral homes were pushed past their limits. The head of France's National Funeral Federation said that funeral homes were more than 66 percent full across the country. Under normal conditions, they run at about 30 to 45 percent capacity. Two funeral homes in central Paris had been completely full since Friday of that week.

The crisis became a political debate too. Critics on both the left and right of French politics attacked the government for not doing enough. Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu pushed back on Monday, saying the government's official measures had 'held up well.' Many people disagreed with that view.

The heat is not expected to go away anytime soon. Temperatures were forecast to rise again in early July, and Paris was expected to feel it badly. Cities often get hotter than the surrounding countryside because of something called the 'urban heat island' effect. Dark surfaces like asphalt and concrete soak up heat and release it slowly, making cities much warmer than nearby rural areas.

Scientists say Europe is warming at about twice the global average rate. They are not entirely sure why, but most agree that human-caused climate change is a major factor. A recent study even suggested that Europe's climate may have permanently changed. Extreme heatwaves, once rare, are now becoming a regular part of European summers.

Doctors and health experts say France must act quickly to protect people. Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault, who works at Bichat hospital in northern Paris, said his hospital was better off than most because it had air conditioning. He pointed out that most hospital beds in France are not air-conditioned. He said adding air conditioning to hospitals could cut deaths during heatwaves by at least 40 percent.

However, air conditioning alone is not a perfect fix. Vandecasteele warned that running lots of air conditioners actually adds heat to the outside air, which can make the problem worse over time. She said that longer-term solutions are also needed, such as adding more parks, trees, and green spaces to cities. More greenery and water features help keep cities cooler naturally.

Education also plays a big role. Vandecasteele said that people in traditionally hot countries already know how to behave safely during extreme heat. But many Europeans are not used to such temperatures and may not know the risks. Teaching people how to stay safe in the heat could save lives.

Even though France is considered a leader in preparing for climate change, Vandecasteele said the recent heatwave showed just how big the challenge really is. 'If a country that is already doing so much is suffering so intensely, it tells you how urgent the situation is,' she said. Real solutions will need governments, cities, and everyday people to work together on a massive scale.