Viterbo – Meanwhile the sky turns yellow, which is the phenomenon of scattering
Viterbo – (bb) – Hot, muggy and humid. On the day of the summer solstice, peaks of 36 degrees were recorded in Tuscia. Yesterday was a day of very hot temperatures throughout the Viterbo area, for which an orange warning was issued by the Ministry of Health.
Heat wave
Yesterday the thermometers recorded 27 degrees at 8 in the morning, which then rose to 35 at 2 in the afternoon. With an extra degree of temperatures perceived due to the high humidity of the air. Today, temperatures will decrease slightly, with thermometers that will record peaks of 33 degrees during the course of the day around 2 pm. 34 degrees will be perceived due to the air temperature and relative humidity.
The entire day will be marked by a yellow alert – level 1 -, while from tomorrow the data will drop further. With temperatures that will return in line with seasonal averages. 21 degrees at 8 am and 29 at 2 pm (felt 30).
Meanwhile, for days now, the sky over the entire province as well as in the rest of Italy and much of Europe has been colored “yellow”. An unusual hood which, together with the high temperatures of the period, is contributing to the high perception of heat. The answer to the phenomenon is to be found in scattering, the diffusion of sunlight through air molecules. In the specific case of the yellow sky, what is reflected by the sun’s rays is the dust of the Sahara desert, pushed by the southern winds. The dust, reddish in color, contains minerals that are iron oxides, such as hematite, magnetite, and maghemite, present in large quantities in the soil in the Sahara.
Here’s what to do and what the experts advise
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 in 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: the natural ventilation determines better air exchange compared to mechanical ventilation. Use the air conditioner or fan correctly. Wear light, light clothing made of natural fibers (e.g. cotton, linen), cover your head with a 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 alight nutrition, 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 enough with you water supplies in case of unexpected queues or files. 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 living alone) and reports 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 experience symptoms of heat-related disorders, contact a doctor.
The anti-heat ordinance of the president of the Lazio region Francesco Rocca
Following the rise in seasonal temperatures, the Lazio region, through an ordinance signed by President Francesco Rocca, has decided to adopt new measures to protect the health of workers exposed to excessive heat, with particular attention to the agricultural, horticultural and construction sites sectors. Workers employed in these areas, in fact, are more at risk of thermal stress and heat stroke, due to prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures” they say in a note from the Lazio region.
Francesco Rocca
The time most at risk is between 12.30pm and 4pm. “Inail, with the Woeklimate project, has made national maps available for predicting the risk of exposure to heat on the worklimate.it website – continues the note from the region -. In this sense, the region has decided to prohibit outdoor work activities from 12.30 pm to 4 pm, with immediate effect until 31 August 2024, on days in which the risk of exposure to the sun with intense physical activity is reported on the website https://www.worklimate.it/scelta-mappa/sole-attivita-fisica-alta/ as “High”.
The main objective of the ordinance is to reduce the impact of thermal stress and prevent serious consequences for the health of workers. “The Lazio region – explains president Francesco Rocca – says stop to strenuous work on days of maximum heat. In fact, with the signing of this important ordinance, we prohibit on these days any work activity in the agricultural, horticultural and construction sites sectors. This is a measure to protect jobs and public safety: we don’t want any more deaths and accidents at work. This is one of many initiativesin addition to the increase in Spresal technicians in the local health authorities, to guarantee and improve quality and safety in the workplace throughout the regional territory”.
June 22, 2024
