Cannes Survival Tips
Jelly fish (medusa). If stung, only wash with seawater not fresh water which will activate the stings. Gently rub with sand after rinsing and pour vinegar on it if you can. Some people prefer to use the sand to dry the affected area and then using the edge of a credit card to gently rub off the stings - then rinse with seawater. Get to a chemist or poste de secours quickly. The after effects can last a month so keep the affected area out of the sun afterwards.
Mosquitos (moustiques). Don't waste your money on citronella, bracelets, plug in diffusers, or ultra sound machines to fight off mosquitoes. They do NOT work, according to a French scientist. The only thing that does is Deet and tropical/jungle strength will keep you safe for 6-8 hours. It can be sprayed on skin, clothing and sheets. Pregnant women and children cannot use Deet and should wear loose clothing and sleep under "mozzie" nets.
It is the female which gorges on you. If bitten, the locals apply vinegar. Dettol takes the itch away but bring it with you as it's unobtainable here. For a good night's sleep invest in an electric plug-in bug killer.
Cannes has been invaded by the Asian mosquito, called locally the tiger mosquito. This pesky little horror does not let off a warning buzz before biting. Nor does it confine itself to just evening and nocturnal feasts but gorges on us all day.
And Did you know... there are 50 different kinds of mosquitos in France
Seagulls (mouettes). Don't look up.
Did you know... it is illegal to feed them.
Sharks (requins). There are 47 shark species in the Med. If you see one do not panic, there is very little chance of attack. Get out of the animal's way, do not touch it and calmly get out of the water. A shark attack is extremely rare on the Cote d'Azur.
Did you know... the Med is one of the world's 10 hotspots for marine biodiversity.
Heatwave (vague de chaleur). Avoid dehydration by drinking a glass of water every 15 minutes even if you are not thirsty. Tea, fruit juices, clear soups and melon are also good. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables to help replace the mineral salts lost through sweating. And wear a hat, sun lotion and sunglasses. Children and older people should avoid the beach between 11am and 4pm.
Did you know... in the Alpes Maritimes the official definition of an orange alert heatwave (canicule = scorching heat) is a night minimum of 24 deg C and 31 deg C during the day for a period of three days.
And Did you know... Cannes tap water is good and regularly wins prizes here in France.
Mosquitos (moustiques). Don't waste your money on citronella, bracelets, plug in diffusers, or ultra sound machines to fight off mosquitoes. They do NOT work, according to a French scientist. The only thing that does is Deet and tropical/jungle strength will keep you safe for 6-8 hours. It can be sprayed on skin, clothing and sheets. Pregnant women and children cannot use Deet and should wear loose clothing and sleep under "mozzie" nets.
It is the female which gorges on you. If bitten, the locals apply vinegar. Dettol takes the itch away but bring it with you as it's unobtainable here. For a good night's sleep invest in an electric plug-in bug killer.
Cannes has been invaded by the Asian mosquito, called locally the tiger mosquito. This pesky little horror does not let off a warning buzz before biting. Nor does it confine itself to just evening and nocturnal feasts but gorges on us all day.
And Did you know... there are 50 different kinds of mosquitos in France
Seagulls (mouettes). Don't look up.
Did you know... it is illegal to feed them.
Sharks (requins). There are 47 shark species in the Med. If you see one do not panic, there is very little chance of attack. Get out of the animal's way, do not touch it and calmly get out of the water. A shark attack is extremely rare on the Cote d'Azur.
Did you know... the Med is one of the world's 10 hotspots for marine biodiversity.
Heatwave (vague de chaleur). Avoid dehydration by drinking a glass of water every 15 minutes even if you are not thirsty. Tea, fruit juices, clear soups and melon are also good. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables to help replace the mineral salts lost through sweating. And wear a hat, sun lotion and sunglasses. Children and older people should avoid the beach between 11am and 4pm.
Did you know... in the Alpes Maritimes the official definition of an orange alert heatwave (canicule = scorching heat) is a night minimum of 24 deg C and 31 deg C during the day for a period of three days.
And Did you know... Cannes tap water is good and regularly wins prizes here in France.