Heat wave plan 2023: When heat becomes a health risk

28 June 2023

Summer heat waves are a particular burden on vulnerable people, i.e. the elderly or chronically ill people. After the heat wave in 2003, the Ministry of Health launched the heat wave plan (“plan canicule”). This is designed to help elderly, debilitated and isolated people in hot weather by offering them monitoring visits and hydration assistance. This action plan is called during extremely hot temperatures by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Red Cross and COPAS. From that point on, monitoring visits are carried out by home care services.

Signing up for the heat wave plan

Anyone over the age of 75 who lives alone or with a person who has limited autonomy and does not receive support or assistance from long-term care insurance can register. Interested persons can register by calling the Red Cross switchboard on 27 55.

Here are important tips to protect yourself from the heat:

• Drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day.
• Spend several hours a day in cool places or in the shade if possible.
• Keep your activities to a minimum during the hottest hours of the day.
• Eat foods with a high water content (lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, etc.), which help the body retain moisture.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks such as coffee, black or green tea.
• During the day, darken rooms with curtains or blinds and keep windows closed.
• Cool down your body by taking showers or partial baths (e.g. of the hands or feet).
• Regularly check on elderly people around you and make sure they drink enough.

Further information:
Inspection Sanitaire phone number: 247-85653
Plan canicule – Portail Santé – Luxembourg (public.lu)
Flyer heat wave (Fr)