Paris when it sizzles: Staying cool during la canicule

It's been 10 years since the 2003 canicule, or heat wave, that was blamed for 15,000 deaths in France and 70,000 deaths in Europe. Météo-France defines une canicule as more than three days of daytime temperatures over 33C/91F and evening temperatures that do not dip below 20C/68F.  It's not clear that the upcoming week will fit the definition of a canicule, but it promises to be very hot with a high of 94F/35C forecast for Tuesday, July 23rd followed by slight decreases in temperature. Here are some strategies for staying cool in Paris.

Staying Cool at Home

Demonstrating Proper Cooling Technique

Toast2Taste © 2013

When a heat wave continues for more than a few days, the accumulated heat of the day never fully dissipates. The heat trapping capabilities of thick apartment walls are appreciated in the winter, but less so during sizzling summers. Try to live like a Mediterranean.
Open your windows at night to let the cool air in and close them in the morning. If you have shutters, close them, too. I have window boxes on some of my windows, so when it's very hot, I turn the window boxes around facing the living room. I can't then close the windows, but I draw the curtains to block out even more sun. After the sun goes down I open everything up again. 

Make sure to close all windows when you leave home. Heat waves are usually accompanied by thunder storms. 

Run fans if you have them. You can purchase fans at BHV, Leroy Merlin next to the Pompidou Center and Monoprix stores (the Reaumur-Sebastopol Monoprix even sells bagged ice cubes!). 

If you have a freezer, wet some washcloths and put them in the freezer. When you return home, take out a nice frozen washcloth and plop it on your head. 

Staying Cool Outside

Stay out of the heat and sun as much as you can. There usually is a sunny side of the street. Stick to the shade as much as you can. You've probably noticed that the hottest time of day in Paris is between 2pm and 6pm, and that evening coolness is very long in coming. Take walks in the late evening.

Paris Plage, which just opened this weekend, is open until midnight, along the the Right Bank of the Seine, at the Hotel de Ville, and also on the Canal de l'Ourcq. Relax on a lawn chair along the Seine, have an ice cream, stroll in the evening breeze (hopefully), and fight for a spot under one of the misting stations. Stay hydrated. 

Other Cool Options

Go to the movies. See Paris Anglo Info for a listing of English language movies. Just make sure the A/C is functioning before you buy your ticket.
Take advantage of the last days of the soldes, summer sales, by hanging out at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, both nicely air-conditioned. Take a dip at the outdoor Piscine Josephine Baker, a municipal pool floating on the Seine. It's open until midnight on some nights.

Keeping Your Electronics Cool

When the ambient temperature exceeds 80-85F (26-29C), electronic devices start to suffer. You may have problems with electrical power and you may notice that your computer is running slow or not at all. Raise your laptop up on a paperback book to get air flow around the motor. Use a small desk top fan to keep the room temperature as low as possible.

You may also notice that your refrigerator is not keeping things as cold as usual. Do not increase the cold setting on the refrigerator. This will only put additional strain on the motor. Instead, make sure there is adequate air flow around the items in the refrigerator and do not fill it completely. 

Avoiding Heat-Related Illness

Exercise extra caution with eating out and purchase food from stores with adequate refrigeration. With the heat it becomes more of a challenge to keep food adequately refrigerated and there is an increase in food-borne illness during heat waves.