During the summer months it is common to suffer several heatwaves, a situation that can be very problematic for people’s health. When these heatwaves occur, it is advisable to take certain common sense precautions to avoid serious problems. Now, what are those recommendations that everyone should keep in mind? Here are some vital ones to get through them in the best possible way.
Special attention should be paid to the elderly
Summer has always been a very hot time in Spain. Temperatures are now slightly higher than in previous decades, but we also have less resistance to extremes. We have become accustomed to air conditioning in homes, offices, and vehicles, which makes our comfort standards higher. Although we take better care of ourselves than before, and our health is monitored more closely, we must be careful during this time. The population is also older, with more health issues that are aggravated by excessive heat.
Therefore, to mitigate the effects of heat, the following advice should be followed:
Drink water: sweating is one of the body’s strategies to cool down and keep going. If we don’t have water in the tank, we end up overheating and stop functioning, just like cars.
Adapt work routine: if you cannot work with air conditioning, avoid being in the sun for too long, and drink even more water than if you were not working. If possible, adjust the schedule to avoid the hottest hours. The coolest time of day is just before sunrise.
Adapt leisure activities: adapt sports and activity routines as well. Exercising in the sun at noon is not good for your health. Physical efforts should be in line with the temperature and humidity of the environment.
Avoid direct sun exposure: solar radiation is harmful to the skin, especially in situations with low stratospheric ozone. The sun is also harmful to the eyes.
Avoid sun-exposed areas: plazas and streets in the center of the country are not places to stay, but to pass through or meet occasionally, especially at midday in August. Older people are less sensitive to heat stroke. They may not realize how hot it is, and although they think they are fine and able to withstand it, they may be overheating excessively and collapse.
Avoid the combination of heat and humidity: the stuffiness, the feeling of oppression in places with high humidity and heat, is because the body cannot cool down by evaporating water. It is common on the coasts, where air conditioning is becoming a necessity.
Ventilate rooms: rooms should always be ventilated, especially in summer, taking advantage of any breeze to let out the warm air, which is less dense, from the house. This should be done in the early morning. Keep the rooms in shade.
Hose down patios: if you have a patio, hose it down in the morning so that the humidity cools the environment and therefore the house.
Cook early: in summer, it is advisable to eat fresh foods. If you have to cook, do it in the early hours of the day.
Francisco J. Tapiador emphasizes the importance of not getting overwhelmed during the summer. “In our country, we can do very little to reduce global warming. It is important to think about our well-being and how to mitigate the heat, adapting our activities to the circumstances. Stay calm, rest, avoid the sun, and if you have to work, adjust your pace to the environment.”
via: MiMub in Spanish
