Another summer fight: here's how to avoid heat stress

“Drink fresh water at all times; seek shade, stay inside between 11am and 4pm, splash your face with fresh water and eat a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables,” so runs a list of dos and don'ts by the parliamentary secretary for the elderly Mario Galea, who this morning announced guidance tips by the Heatwave Committee.

“Also seek rooms which are in the coolest parts of the building… even my dog does so,” Galea half-joked, saying that people working outside such as farmers, constructors and road workers should also apply sun cream frequently to protect themselves.

In cases of a heat wave alert, the meteorological center will be contacting the Heatwave Committee several days before, informing them when the heat wave will arrive and its duration. During this period, carers should prepare themselves to support vulnerable people. The Heatwave Committee is made up from various care homes representatives, who will meet up with staff from governmental, private and church nursing houses to discuss the best precautions to take to safeguard the health of the residents.

Galea said that all governmental nursing homes are equipped with airconditions which receive maintenance regularly. “€608,154 were spent to install and maintain these airconditions to make sure that, especially those who are bed-ridden are taken care of,” Galea said.  This amount also includes installation of airconditions in certain private and church nursing homes.  Thermometers were installed in rooms. These are checked and taken note of three times a day. Reports would then be sent to the Committee and aircondition units would be set to accommodate the different ambient temperature of the rooms.

“We are also trying to gain media space to broadcast spots which could help inform the general public about what to do when heat waves arrive,” Galea said, adding that in the meantime “posters are being put on church notice boards, in all nursing houses, local councils and hospitals.”

Precautions include: a/c temperature to be set at an ambient temperature of 26°C.  Temperature set any lower could result in hypothermia in frail elderly people.  Advice, consulted with the residents, is given about food being recommended that the best food to eat are fruits and vegetables since they are rich in water.  In situations where a/cs are not present, or in the case of power cut, a sustainable amount of fans should be provided.  A cool room at the temperature of 26°C should always be kept available to accommodate residents showing heat related symptoms.

The coming list of supply is also recommended to the general public.  Drinking lots of water is also crucial to eliminate the risk of dehydration. A supply of water, ice, water sprays and oral rehydration salts should always be readily available.

Heat causes the body to sweat and any factor that reduces the effectiveness of sweating such as dehydration, lack of breeze, tight-fitting clothes or certain medications can cause the body to overheat. Especially those who are more vulnerable to heat such as the elderly, it is important to wear clothes with are loose-fitting and are made out of cotton. Nylon is not recommended since it captures the heat. 

Another recommendation is to check that any south-facing windows can be shaded, preferably by curtains with pale, reflective linings and avoid curtains with dark linings. Where possible, in all houses, whether they are residential homes for the elderly or private houses owned by the general public, increase outside shading in the form of shutters, shades, trees or leafy plans. Reflective paint can also assist in keeping the building cool. Outside greenery increases moisture content and aids cooling as natural air conditioner.