Exposure to high temperatures is harmful to our bodies, posing a risk of dehydration, exacerbation of chronic illnesses, and heatstroke. When this occurs, it’s essential to stop all activity for several hours, cool down, rest in a cool place, and drink water, fruit juice, etc.
People more sensitive to heat
- Women over 65 who live alone.
- People who are dependent in their daily lives: memory, behavioural, and orientation problems…
- People with chronic illnesses: diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems…
- People who take medication such as: diuretics, antihypertensives, antidepressants…
- People with fever or acute illnesses
- People who have shown difficulty adapting to the heat.Infants and children under five years old.
It is necessary to stop all activity for several hours, cool down and rest in a cool place, drink water, fruit juice etc
Other situations that increase the risk
- Loneliness, social isolation
- Housing difficult to cool
- Absence of cooling systems in the home
- Intense physical exercise, sports
- Heat-related jobs
Warning signs
- Dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures.
- Insomnia and unusual nighttime restlessness.
- Muscle cramps in arms, legs and abdomen.
- Rapid rise in body temperature, high fever.
- Weakness, tiredness…
- Severe headaches, nausea.
- Hot, red and dry skin, intense thirst.
What to do when temperatures are very high
Protect yourself from the heat
- Avoid going out and doing activities during the hottest hours, and especially avoid physical activities such as sports, gardening, DIY, etc.
- When going outside, try to stay in the shade. Wear a hat, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of cotton. Carry a bottle of water with you.
- Close windows and curtains on sun-exposed facades.
- Keep windows closed while the outside temperature is higher than inside your home. Open them at night to allow for air circulation.
Stay cool
- Stay indoors in the coolest rooms of your home.
- If you do not have a cool room, spend a few hours in air-conditioned premises near your home.
- During the day, shower or bathe several times to refresh your body.
- It can also dampen clothes.
With the drink and the food
- Drink as much as possible, even if you’re not thirsty. The best drink is water, at room temperature, not too cold. Fruit juices, milk, or cold soups like gazpacho also help keep us well hydrated.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages. Alcohol dehydrates you because it facilitates the elimination of water through urine and increases sweating.
- Do not overuse stimulating drinks such as tea or coffee.
- Eat according to your usual routine, preferably fruit and vegetables, dividing your meals throughout the day and in moderate amounts.
- Avoid hot, heavy, and large meals.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist:
- If you are taking certain medications (for blood pressure, heart conditions, depression, etc.) to prevent problems in case of high temperatures, follow the instructions on the packaging regarding their storage and your doctor’s instructions.
- Ask for help and give it to others.
- If you feel unwell due to the heat, ask for help.
- If you know of people who live alone or who are ill, report their condition to the health centre and help them to eat and drink.
Take special care with the storage and preservation of medications
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- Medications to be stored between +2C and +8C
Keep them in the refrigerator, but don’t put them too far back so they don’t freeze.
Take them out just a few minutes before use.
If you have to transport them, place them in a portable cooler with ice packs, but always inside their cardboard packaging.
- Medicines to be stored at temperatures below +25C or +30C (indicated on the packaging)
Keep them in their original packaging and store them in the coolest places in your home.
If you have to transport it, it is advisable to place them in a portable cooler but without ice packs.
- Medicines that are stored at room temperature.
They can be stored without problems under normal storage conditions, as they maintain their properties even when temperatures reach 40C.
- Medications with specific pharmaceutical forms (suppositories, ovules, creams…)
In these cases, heat affects the pharmaceutical form but not the active ingredient.
If, when you go to use the product, after exposure to heat, the appearance is normal, the suppository is not melted, or the cream has not changed color or consistency, the medicine maintains its properties.
If its appearance has been visibly altered, you should not consume it.
- Capillary blood glucose meters (finger prick) and their reagents (test strips and control solutions)
Follow the specific temperature, usage, and storage conditions listed in your meter’s user manual and the test strip instructions.
Do not expose glucose meters and their reagents to direct sunlight or high temperatures, nor subject them to strong temperature variations.
Do not store the test strips in the refrigerator.
If you need to transport them, do so in their original packaging. It is advisable to transport them in a cooler WITHOUT ice packs.
Never leave it inside the car.
