Spain launches National Plan to reduce the impact of heatwaves
The Ministry of Health has made a number of recommendations ahead of another scorching summer in Spain
The Ministry of Health in Spain has activated its ‘National Preventive Action Plan for the Effects of Excess Temperatures on Health’ which will remain in place from Monday May 15 until September 30.
The objective of the plan is to prevent and mitigate the effects that excessively high temperatures can have on health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, minors and people with chronic diseases, as well as those who carry out physical work outdoors.
One of the priority actions of the plan will be to alert the health authorities and the public well in advance of any approaching heatwaves by providing regional governments with the maximum temperature predictions by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) on a daily basis.
And the government has already agreed to limit the working hours of outdoor labourers when the temperatures reach the high risk levels.
With the coming summer expected to be yet another scorcher, the Ministry of Health has issued a series of general recommendations during heatwaves:
- Drink water and other fluids regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages and those containing alcohol and sugar, as these tend to dehydrate.
- While anyone can suffer from the heat, special attention should be paid to babies and young children, pregnant or lactating women, as well as the elderly and those with illnesses that can aggravated by high temperatures (such as heart and kidney problems, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, pathologies that hinder mobility, dementia and other mental health illnesses, as well as drug or alcohol abuse).
- Spend as much time as possible in the shade and avoid the sun in the middle of the day.
- Reduce physical activity where possible and avoid practicing outdoor sports during the central hours.
- Wear light, loose clothing that allows you to sweat.
- Never leave people or animals in parked cars.
- Keep medications in a cool, dark place, as heat can alter their composition.
- Eat light meals such as salads, fruit, vegetables and juices that help replace the salt lost through perspiration.
- Consult a healthcare professional in the event of symptoms that last for more than an hour and that may be related to high temperatures.
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