Heat wave warning

Cool your home:

• Try to cool down the space you live in. Measure the room temperature between 8 and 10 a.m., at 1 p.m., and at night after 10 p.m. Ideally, keep the room temperature below 90 °F (32 °C) during the day and below 75 °F (24 °C) at night. This is especially important for children or if you are over 60 or have chronic health conditions.
• Use the cooler night air to cool your home. Open all windows or blinds at night and in the early morning hours when the outside temperature is lower (if possible).
• Reduce the amount of hot air inside your apartment or house. Close windows and blinds (if you have them) during the day, especially those facing the sun. Turn off all artificial lights and as many electrical appliances as possible.
• Put screens, drapes, awnings on windows that get morning or afternoon sun.
• When you turn on the cooling device (air-conditioning), close the doors and windows so that they do not consume more energy than necessary.
• Electric fans can provide relief and refreshment, but if the temperature is above 35 °C they will not prevent heat-related illnesses.

 

Avoid the heat:

• Take shelter in the coldest room of the apartment/house, especially at night.
• If you can’t keep the apartment/house cool, spend 2-3 hours a day in a cold space (eg public building that is cooled).
• Avoid going out during the hottest part of the day.
• Avoid strenuous physical work.If you have to work hard, do it at the coolest time of the day, which is usually between 4 and 7 in the morning.
• Look for the shadow.
• Do not leave children or animals in a parked vehicle.
• Regularly use creams with a protective factor against harmful UV radiation.Special care should be given to newborns and small children. For them, you should use sunscreen with the highest factor.
• Adjust your exposure to the sun’s UV radiation, taking into account daily changes in the UV index.

Cool your body and drink enough fluids:

• Avoid being in the sun between 10 am and 5 pm, especially children, pregnant women, the elderly, and heart patients and patients with diabetes
• Take a shower or bath in lukewarm water. Another option is to wrap yourself in cold wet towels, cool yourself with a wet sponge, take foot baths, etc.
• Wear light, loose, and light-colored clothing made from natural materials. If you go outside, wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap and sunglasses.
• Use light bedding and sheets, preferably without pillows, to avoid heat accumulation.
• Drink regularly, but avoid alcohol and drinks with too much caffeine and sugar. It is important to drink enough fluids but not abruptly.
• Eat small meals more often. Avoid foods high in protein.

 

Help others:

• Visit family, friends and neighbours who spend most of their time alone. Vulnerable people may need help on hot days
• Talk about heatstroke with family members. Given their health and activities, each family member should know what protective measures they need to take.
• If someone you know is at risk, help them get advice and support. Elderly people and sick people who live alone should be visited at least once a day.
• If they are taking medication, check with their doctor about the impact these medications may have on thermoregulation and fluid balance in the body.
• Take a first aid course to learn what to do in the event of heatstroke and other emergencies. Everyone needs to know how to react.

 

If you have health problems:

• Keep your medication below 25°C or in the refrigerator (read the instructions on storing the medication in the package leaflet).
• Seek medical advice if you have a chronic illness or are taking multiple medications.

 

If you or others around you feel unwell:

• Seek help if you feel dizzy, weak, faint, anxious, or extremely thirsty and have a severe headache; go to a cooler area as soon as possible and take your temperature.
• Drink water or fruit juice to replenish fluids.
• Calm down and lie down in a cool room if you have painful cramps, most often in the legs, arms, or stomach, often after work or exercise in very hot weather, drink fluids containing electrolytes, and seek medical attention if the cramps persist for more than an hour.
• Consult a doctor if you have other symptoms or if the symptoms described last longer.

If a family member or someone you are helping has hot, dry skin or delirium (talking irrationally and being restless), cramps, and/or is unconscious, call a doctor/ambulance immediately. While waiting for the doctor/ambulance, place the person in a cool room in a horizontal position, elevate the legs and hips, remove clothing and begin external cooling – such as cold compresses on the neck, armpits and groin with a fan and spraying the skin with water at a temperature of 25 – 30 °C. Measure the body temperature. Cool the person until the body temperature drops below 38 °C. Do not give acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol. Place unconscious people in the lateral recumbent position.

During the entire duration of the extreme heat, follow the recommendations of local health institutions!

Source: http://www.euro.who.int/

Important numbers:

• Emergency Medical Services – 194 (for the whole of Croatia)
• The 112 center acts as a single communications center for all types of emergencies.

See: www.hzjz.hr; www.srcana.hr; www.cezih.hr