This summer is going to be a scorcher and is long overdue in our opinion. This doesn’t mean to say you still shouldn’t be safe and look after yourself, especially given we are on the tail end of a year long pandemic. The experts at the World Health Organisation are attributing the longer and hotter summers to climate change, with cities becoming hot spots for the extreme heat that will amplify over the coming years.
The following guidelines have been outlined by WHO:
During periods of hot weather, it is important to keep cool to avoid the negative health effects of heat.
- Keep out of the heat.
Avoid going out and doing strenuous activity during the hottest time of day. Take advantage of special shopping times for vulnerable groups whenever available. Stay in the shade, do not leave children or animals in parked vehicles, and if necessary and possible, spend 2–3 hours of the day in a cool place while respecting physical distance of at least 1 meter. - Keep your home cool.
Use the night air to cool down your home. Reduce the heat load inside the apartment or house during the day by using blinds or shutters and turning off as many electrical devices as possible. - Keep your body cool and hydrated.
Use light and loose-fitting clothing and bed linen, take cool showers or baths, and drink water regularly, while avoiding sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks. - Keep cool during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Avoid exposure to the sun or to temperatures higher than 25°C, as there is no evidence that this prevents or cures COVID-19, and it increases your risk of sunburn and heat-related illness. You can catch COVID-19 no matter how sunny or hot the weather is, so protect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly, coughing into your folded elbow or a tissue, and avoiding touching your face.
It is worth checking in on relatives that may find some of these tasks difficult, such as anyone with a vulnerability.
Source: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/pages/news/news/2020/5/preparing-for-a-long,-hot-summer-with-covid-19
