Heat waves and two days, today and tomorrow, with an orange sticker in Pescara. The mercury rises to 37 degrees
The mercury column that rises up to 37 degrees puts health at risk, especially for the most fragile. This is the scenario expected for today and tomorrow in Pescara, an orange city as emerges from the Ministry of Health bulletin on heat waves, with temperatures of up to 36-37 degrees centigrade.
Extreme heat conditions represent a health risk especially for the elderly, infants and children, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases (respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal failure, Parkinson’s disease etc.), with mental disorders, with reduced mobility or not self-sufficient, guests in healthcare residences, those who regularly take certain types of drugs, those who use alcohol and drugs, people, even young people, who exercise or carry out intense work in the open air, people with social conditions – poor economic conditions.
On the Ministry’s website there are updates on the climate situation in Italian cities and advice on how to deal with the scorching heat.
We list the main ones:
- Avoid exposing yourself to heat and direct sun during the hottest hours of the day (between 11.00 and 18.00): high temperatures and humidity can cause symptoms associated with heat and burns.
- Avoid particularly busy areas, in particular for very young children, the elderly, people with asthma and other respiratory diseases, non-self-sufficient or convalescent people. Go to public places such as parks and gardens during the cooler hours of the day.
- Go out during the cooler hours
- Spend the hottest hours of the day in the coolest room of the house, bathing yourself often with cool water.
- Ensures adequate air exchange: natural ventilation determines better air exchange than mechanical ventilation.
- Use the air conditioner correctly. If you only have a fan, use it following some precautions (read the brochure How to improve the microclimate of your home).
- Wear light, light clothing made of natural fibers (e.g. cotton, linen), cover your head with a light, light-colored hat and use sunglasses.
- Protect your skin from sunburn with sunscreens with a high protection factor.
- Drink liquids, moderating the intake of carbonated or sugary drinks, tea and coffee. Also avoid too cold drinks and alcoholic beverages.
- Follow a light diet, prefer pasta and fish to meat, avoiding processed and spicy foods; consume lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Pay attention to the correct storage of perishable foods (e.g. dairy products, meat) as high temperatures can favor the proliferation of pathogenic germs causing gastrointestinal diseases.
- If you take medications, do not independently suspend ongoing therapies but consult your doctor for any adjustments to your drug therapy.
- Pay attention to the correct storage of medicines, keep them away from heat sources and direct sunlight and place those with a storage temperature no higher than 25-30°C in the refrigerator.
- If the car is not air conditioned, avoid traveling during the hottest hours of the day (11.00-18.00). Don’t forget to bring sufficient supplies of water with you in case of unexpected queues or queues.
- Do not leave dependent people, children and the elderly, even for a short time, in the car parked in the sun.
- Make sure that sick and/or bedridden people are not covered too much.
- Offer assistance to people at greater risk (for example elderly people who live alone) and report any situations that require intervention to the social and health services. In elderly people, a warning sign is the reduction in some daily activities (moving around the house, dressing, eating, regularly going to the bathroom, washing) which may indicate a worsening of the state of health.
- If you have symptoms of heat-related disorders, contact a doctor (go to the Health risks section).
