Health risk warnings due to high temperatures in Santa Lucía de Tirajana, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Tejeda

 

The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Public Health, extends until July 16 the warnings issued this week of health risk due to the forecast of high temperatures in the Gran Canaria municipalities of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Tejeda.

 

 

 

 

To assign risk levels, an algorithm has been established that includes the expected maximum temperatures, threshold temperatures and risk factors of the 13 “meteohealth” zones that have been created in the Canary Islands for temperature monitoring. The areas affected by the increase are municipalities that belong to the South, East and West zone of Gran Canaria (34 ºC) and the Cumbres zone of Gran Canaria (33 ºC).

 

GRAN CANARIA

Red notice, risk level 3, until July 16 in Santa Lucía de Tirajana and San Bartolomé de Tirajana and until July 15 in Tejeda.

 

Risk levels

The criteria for assigning health risk levels for situations of excess temperature, determined by the Ministry of Health, is based on a decision algorithm.

Depending on this algorithm, based on the expected maximum temperatures, the established threshold, the number of days of persistence, which is specified as a minimum of three, and the risk factors of each territory, four risk levels are determined:

◦ Level 0 (green), no risk.

◦ Level 1 (yellow), low risk.

◦ Level 2 (orange), medium risk.

◦ Level 3 (red), high risk.

 

Recommendations for high temperatures

Vulnerability to high temperatures includes personal risk factors: such as being over 65 years of age, lactating, pregnant, etc.; environmental, local (homeless people, athletes, especially hikers) and labor, among others. The recommendations aimed at the vulnerable population especially are:

 

• Stay as long as possible in cool, shaded or heated places, and cool off whenever needed.
• Reduce physical activity and avoid playing sports outdoors in the middle of the day.
• Drink water or liquids frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty and regardless of the physical activity you do.
•  Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or very sugary, as they can promote dehydration.
•  Pay special attention to: babies, minors, pregnant or lactating women, as well as older people or people with diseases that may be aggravated by heat (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, pathologies that make mobility difficult, dementia). and other mental illnesses, as well as drug or alcohol abuse). Although anyone can suffer from a heat-related problem.
•  Wear light, loose-fitting clothing that allows you to breathe.
•  Do not leave anyone in a parked and closed vehicle (especially minors, elderly people or people with chronic illnesses).
•  Consult a health professional if symptoms last more than an hour and may be related to high temperatures.
•  Eat light meals that help replace the salts lost through sweat (salads, fruits, vegetables, juices, etc.).
•  Keep medicines in a cool place; Heat can alter its composition and effects.