Much of France was set to experience temperatures of around 40C on Tuesday, after records were shattered on Monday

Forty people have drowned in France over the past days as they sought to cool down to escape record heat, the prime minister said on Tuesday, as a heatwave swept across much of Europe.

Speaking ahead of an emergency meeting on the heatwave, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said: "A sad scourge when it comes to drownings, as the latest figures just reported to us show 40 deaths since June 18, most of them young people."

Across France, people have been jumping into canals and rivers to cool off. French sports minister Marina Ferrari said she understood the urge to escape the heat but warned against swimming in unauthorized or dangerous areas.

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[–] 5 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

To anyone reading, if you find yourself in this situation: water above 37 degrees will make things worse. You're better off outside. Put water on your skin, not the other way around. Put yourself in front of a ventilator for maximum effect. It's water evaporating from your skin that will cool you.

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  • [–] 0 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Where is the water ever going to be above 37 degrees celsius outside of a scummy little pond though?

    The water here never gets that warm around here outside of small stagnant ponds, and any that does will get cynabacteria and kill anything that drinks from it.

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