Health reminds of the importance of taking preventive measures to take protection from high temperatures
News - 2024.7.19
The Ministry of Health has recalled the importance of preventing and mitigating the negative effects that excessive heat can have on citizens' health, especially for at risk and more vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, minors and people with chronic illnesses, as well as those who work or exercise outdoors.
Throughout the summer, the Spanish National Health Service is keeping active the National Plan of Preventive Actions against the Effects of Excess Temperature on Health, the aim of which is to reduce the impact of heat on the health of the population. Every morning, the Ministry of Health updates the Meteosalud map of health risk levels by zones, which also has a free email and SMS subscription system.
10-point list of general recommendations for dealing with the heat
The Ministry of Health continues to promote a 10-point list of general recommendations to minimise the harm that people can suffer as a result of the heat:
- Drink water or fluids frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty and regardless of physical activity.
- Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic or highly sweetened beverages, which can facilitate dehydration.
- Although anyone can suffer from a heat-related problem, pay special attention to babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly people and people with diseases that can be aggravated by heat (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, pathologies that hinder mobility, dementia and other mental illnesses, as well as drug or alcohol abuse).
- As far as possible, stay in cool, shady or air-conditioned places, and cool down as needed.
- Try to reduce physical activity and avoid outdoor sports in the middle of the day.
- Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing.
- Never leave anyone in a parked and locked vehicle (especially minors, the elderly and chronically ill people).
- Consult your health care professional for symptoms that last more than an hour and may be related to high temperatures.
- Keep medicines in a cool place; heat may alter their composition and effects.
- Eat light meals to help replenish salts lost through sweating (salads, fruit, vegetables, juices, etc.).
Risk factors and effects of high temperature exposure
The impact of excessive heat exposure is influenced by physiological ageing and underlying diseases. A healthy person can normally tolerate a variation in internal temperature of up to approximately 37 degrees Celsius without significant alteration of their physical and mental condition. Above 37 degrees, a physiological defence reaction takes place. However, it should be borne in mind that older people and children are more sensitive to these temperature changes.
Moreover, from a social point of view, isolation, dependency, some types of disability and the living conditions of people with fewer resources, add risk factors that make these groups even more vulnerable. The risk factors associated with exposure to high temperatures considered in the National Plan can be of a personal, environmental, occupational or social and local nature.
Exposure to high ambient temperatures can lead to an inadequate response of the human thermoregulatory system. Excessive heat can disrupt our vital functions if the human body is not able to compensate for variations in body temperature. A very high temperature leads to a loss of water and electrolytes that are necessary for the normal functioning of the various organs. In some people with certain chronic diseases, those that are undergoing certain medical treatments and/or with people with disabilities that limit their autonomy, these thermoregulatory mechanisms may be more easily imbalanced.
Biologically, exposure to excessive temperatures can lead to health problems such as cramps, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke (leading to multi-organ problems that can include symptoms such as gait instability, convulsions, coma and even death).
During the summer of 2023, the Daily Mortality Monitoring System of the National Epidemiology Centre of the Carlos III Institute of Health identified 3,009 deaths attributable to excess temperature at national level, the third summer with most excess temperatures in the 2015-2023 series. In the same year, the regional health authorities notified the Ministry of Health of 24 deaths due to heat stress, with an average age of 53 years and a gender distribution of 87.5% men and 12.5% women.
National Plan against high temperatures
The National Plan of Preventive Actions against high temperatures sets out the measures to reduce the effects associated with excessive temperatures and to coordinate the state administration institutions involved in this matter. It also proposes actions to autonomous communities and local administrations, depending on the risk levels assigned, and in accordance with the temperatures forecast.
The Ministry of Health website provides a map with information on the levels of risk to health from high temperatures in each of the 182 Meteosalud zones. It also makes available to the public a Meteosalud's Temperature and Risk Level Subscription Service by zones, which offers the possibility of receiving information on the forecast temperature and the level of risk to health due to excessive temperature, free of charge by email and/or SMS, during the time interval requested.
Non official translation