Filenews 13 July 2022
In summer the temperature and humidity in the environment rise and can affect people's health. When the increases are particularly high compared to the normal ones, in which case we have a "Heat Wave", special care is needed to protect health.
The following are measures that can protect health as best as possible.
Who is most at risk
- Men compared to women
- Infants, young children and the elderly (especially the elderly who live alone and do not have someone to help them in the days of the heat wave)
- Workers outdoors and indoors with high temperature and humidity (industrial heat)
- Those who are in areas with increased air pollution (industrial areas – exhaust gases)
- Accommodation in densely populated areas
- Sufferers of chronic diseases (eg diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, blood pressure disorders, etc.)
- People with a burdened medical history (e.g. heart patients, lung patients)
- Those taking specific medications (eg insulin, antidiabetics, diuretics, anticholinergics, etc.)
- Bedridden patients (patients in bed)
- Women during pregnancy
- People with disabilities
- People with psychiatric conditions
- Those who are socially isolated
- People staying in places that are not protected from temperature and humidity
- Athletes
What to avoid and what to prefer
- Avoid exposure and activities to sunlight mainly between the hours of 11 am - 4 pm. It is better to stay in a cool place of the house or shady areas. Activities are best avoided.
- Avoid "heavy" foods and prefer light ones.
- We avoid exposing the face to the sun and use hats and umbrella.
- We use sunscreen at least half an hour before sun exposure.
- NO to alcoholic beverages YES to water and juices.
- We avoid clothes that bring discomfort. We prefer comfortable clothes with light colours.
- We do not leave infants and young children exposed to increased sunshine, but we take care of them constantly.
- We never leave children alone in a closed car or other closed motor vehicle. The temperature inside the car can quickly become much higher than the outside temperature and continue to rise to temperatures that cause death. Nor do we leave animals alone in a closed vehicle.
- We avoid warm enclosed spaces without good ventilation and prefer areas with air conditioners and fans and certainly with very good ventilation.
- We make sure that our house is "cooled down" with the morning and evening air and we protect it from the hot sun with windows.
- Cool water in the body helps to lower the temperature.
Social responsibility for our fellow human beings
We take care of ourselves, the children, our family, at the same time, those of us who have the ability to offer as much help and safety as we can to our fellow human beings.
Symptoms and signs that usually occur due to increased temperature and humidity
Attention!
The following, when observed, we call medical assistance (Doctor / Nurse) and report them immediately:
- Headache, malaise, dizziness, weakness, fatigue (= severe tiredness)
- Confusion
- Constant intense thirst
- Dry skin and tongue
- Cramps (when muscles hurt and are contracted)
- Feeling of annihilation and fainting (when the person feels that he is "lost", has no strength and begins to lose contact with those around him.)
- Fainting when the person does not have contact with those around him
- Profuse sweating (Attention! in cases where there are other symptoms and no sweating, immediate medical attention is needed)
- Coma
- When in doubt, call the Doctor or Nurse.
- Other symptoms or signs, which are not included in the above, should definitely be reported to the Doctor or Nurse.
