This week, France is not spared by the heat wave. To cool off, some are tempted to take cold showers. We explain why this trick is not recommended.
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A risk of thermal shock
Taking a cold shower is a bad idea. At the moment, fresh water is good. But the body feels it rather as an aggression and will struggle to maintain the body temperature at 37°. Pass the first sensation of freshness, you risk the thermal shock, caused by the difference between the temperature of the body and the freshness of the water.
Ditto for swimming in the fresh water of a lake or a river. The National Federation of Firefighters of France (FNSPF) recalls that there is a risk of hydrocution and therefore of drowning.
The public health agency France advises to wet the body, and in particular the face and the forearms, several times a day. For car trips, bring a fogger and remember to take water to drink.
Stay cool!
Another tip: avoid going out during the hottest hours and do not expose yourself to direct sunlight. “Spend several hours a day in a cool place (cinema, municipal library, supermarket, museum…)”recommends the health agency.
You should also avoid physical exertion when it is too hot. You can try to keep your accommodation as cool as possible by closing the windows and shutters/curtains during the day and opening them in the evening and at night if it is cooler.
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