Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Posted by : John Ross on Jul 17, 2008 - 06:45 AM Health

It doesn't look like being Spain and Portugal's hottest summer ever, but it's quite warm enough - Weather Underground tells me that maximum temperatures of 102ºF / 39ºC are expected in Andalusia next week, and these are "weather-station" temperatures, measured in the shade. So it's time to be sensible - people die of heatstroke every year, though 2008 will not see a repeat of the heat wave of 2003, which killed over thirty thousand in Europe. Since then, the Spanish government, together with the Red Cross and Caritas, has run an annual prevention campaign to combat the effects of the heat. The greatest risk is to the elderly, the very young and the infirm, but perfectly healthy adults are also at risk if they are imprudent and over-exert themselves when the heat is at its height - heatstroke regularly kills farm labourers and building workers and even joggers at this time of year. Brits tend to think that the big threat in a Spanish summer is the sun and that all will be well as long as they wear a hat, a sensible precaution, it is true, but the greatest danger to health is the heat itself, as well as the dehydration it causes. And hyperthermia, when body temperature rises much above 40ºC, is not just life-threatening at the time, but may cause serious, lasting damage to health. So, what precautions should you take against the heat of a Spanish summer and, especially, what should you do to protect the vulnerable in your care? Find out here.

These are the Spanish Ministry of Health's recommendations for protecting yourself, your children and elderly or infirm people in your care from the heat:

"RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Drink abundant liquids, even if you are not thirsty and regardless of how much physical activity you are doing. If your doctor customarily restricts your consumption of liquids or has you follow a course of diuretic treatment, ask him how much liquid you should drink on hot days.
2. Don't drink too much liquid containing caffeine or large amounts of sugar, as they really make you lose body liquid overall. Avoid alcohol, as well.
3. Make sure children and the elderly also drink abundant liquids on very hot days, even if they do not feel thirsty.
4. Make light meals which help replace the salts lost by sweating (salads, fruit, vegetables, fruit juice, etc.
5. Protect the skin, head and body in general from direct exposure to the sun.
6. Wear light, loose, light-coloured clothing which allows transpiration. If you must go out at the hottest times of day, wear a hat, singlasses and sunscreen with a minimum protection factor of 15, which should be applied approximately 30 minutes before you go out.
7. Stay for as long as possible in cool places, in the shade or with air-conditioning. If your home does not have air conditioning, consider the possibility of going to a public place which does, such as shopping centres or libraries. Cool yourself down whenever you need to (translator's note* - this means taking cool or lukewarm showers).
8. Avoid making physical effort at the hottest times of day. If you want to carry out any physical activity or sport, it is advisable to do it in the early morning or at dusk. After the activity, drink enough liquid to compensate.
9. Although anyone can suffer problems related with the heat, pay special attention to babies and small children, the elderly and people with mental or physical illnesses which might be aggravated by heat and dehydration, such as heart disease. Visit old and infirm people often to make sure they are all right and that they are drinking enough.
10. Never leave anyone (especially children, elderly people or severely ill people) in a parked, closed vehicle.
11. Consult your doctor if any symptom which might be related with the heat appears.
12. Keep medication in a cool place, heat may alter its composition and effects.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUMMER

* High-risk people, over-65's and seriously ill people, must avoid the sun, follow treatment prescribed by their doctors and, if their family or carers notice somnolence, vomiting, diarrhoea, sweating, etc. be taken to their hospital or the nearest health centre.
* Emergency assistance units and general practice units will have sufficient personnel and means of transport (ambulances) and they or hospitals or health centres will take the necessary steps to attend to the emergency.
* Solar radiation
* Accidents in recreational waters
* Precaution against jellyfish stings"

I think that last comment about jellyfish sort of slipped in: jellyfish are a nuisance, sometimes a painful one, in Spain, but almost never life-threatening. The heat, in contrast, is dangerous, and I would like to stress that heatstroke is a medical emergency, requiring prompt, rapid action. The "gold standard" treatment is cold-water immersion, which is unpleasant but effective, at least if carried out soon enough.

The Red Cross's recommendations are very similar to the ministry's, with these extra tips:

- If you are outdoors, try to stay in the shade.
- (On the "cool yourself down" front) wet your head and/or use a fan (girls of all ages love them, anyway).
- Remember that electric fans don't actually cool anything down. Open the windows to make them more effective.
- On a car journey, make regular stops for rest and refreshment.
- Carry liquids with you.
- Wear wide-brimmed hats.
- If you feel unwell, stop whatever you are doing, try to get into a cool, shady place and ask for help.

More information:
Video - Beating the Heat is in Your Hands
Health Ministry recommendations. In Spanish.
Some quite cute interactive games to educate kids about dealing with the heat (in Spanish). The best is Hídratate (keep yourself hydrated), in which you have to collect drops and bottles of water while staying in the shade.

*The translator being me, of course.