Amid an intense heat wave sweeping across France, postal workers have expanded their traditional roles to include welfare checks on elderly and vulnerable residents. This initiative, launched in June by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, aims to address the heightened risks posed by soaring temperatures and social isolation, particularly among older individuals.

In Aix-les-Bains, a spa town in southeastern France known for its aging population, postal employees like Harmony Simon have taken on the added responsibility of ensuring that residents are coping with the extreme heat. During her rounds, Ms. Simon visits retirees such as Martine Combe, 68, who suffers from diabetes and asthma. With indoor temperatures climbing up to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) and no air conditioning, Ms. Combe relies on makeshift solutions like covering windows with aluminum foil to stay cool. Postal workers, drawing on their frequent contact with local residents, offer practical advice such as using survival blankets on windows to reduce indoor heat.

The French government’s effort to mobilize postal workers follows a deadly heat wave in June, which broke national temperature records and led to an estimated 6,000 deaths, according to Santé Publique France, the national public health agency. Approximately two-thirds of those fatalities were people aged 75 or older. Deaths occurring at home rose sharply during this period, highlighting concerns over vulnerable individuals living in isolation.

France maintains registries of at-risk residents who request regular contact during heat waves, but these can be incomplete or outdated. With a workforce of about 65,000 employees embedded in local communities, the postal service plays a critical role in reaching isolated individuals who might not be accounted for in official lists.

In Aix-les-Bains, where around 13 percent of the 30,000 inhabitants are over 75, Mayor Renaud Beretti emphasized the importance of vigilance during these conditions. The town has opened air-conditioned public spaces as cooling centers, but postal workers help identify those unable to access these facilities.

Postal employees often find themselves filling roles akin to social workers or health monitors. For instance, in Vénissieux, near Lyon, postal worker Fares Seffari recounted assisting a customer in distress, staying with her until family arrived, while also advising others on staying hydrated and nourished during the heat.

Besides physical health monitoring, postal workers provide vital social contact. Elvire Bertagnolio, 95, who lives alone in Aix-les-Bains, expressed gratitude for these visits, which alleviate her loneliness and help her manage the challenges posed by heat and isolation.

Despite the taxing conditions, employees like Ms. Simon continue their rounds by bicycle throughout the city, demonstrating the commitment embedded in this expanded public service. Residents such as Gilberte Milano, 88, appreciate not only the practical support but also the emotional comfort, describing postal workers as “a bit like our psychologists” during difficult times.

This initiative reflects efforts by French authorities and local communities to adapt longstanding services to the realities of climate change and demographic shifts, aiming to safeguard the most vulnerable during increasingly frequent heat waves.