Frenchy:

I am an Certified HVAC-R (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.) technician here in the United States of America.

We have brand new 5,000 BTU air conditioners selling here in Wisconsin for as little $79.00 US. They are high quality, with rotary compressors and are very energy efficient.

I am sure that similar air conditioners are available in the Europeon continent. Do not let your power companies try to tell you it is your country mens fault if they use air conditioning. It is merely poor planning by the power companies as in the United States, we have laws that allow power companies to cut off electrical usage to large companies in times of emergency such as your heat wave.

I am also a caretaker for my elderly mother and was a caretaker for my father until he passed away March 5, 2004. My father did not want to drink fluids because he feared messing himself because of the constant need to urinate. My mother and I did the best we could to make him drink to no avail. I had to take him to the hospital 3 times just to have him hydrated with an IV because he refused to take in fluids. I suspect a lot of older people have that fear and probably refuse sufficient intake of fluids because of pride and the fear of losing bladder control and messing themselves.

Get the sick and elderly air conditioners, modify the laws of electical distribution and usage, and make people comfort mandatory in emergencies like heat waves.

Good luck!

Bountyhunter