After Southern Europe, Germany and Bavaria are now also being hit by the heat wave. Doctors warn old people and pregnant women – and give tips.
Munich – It’s hot, very hot. Everywhere in Germany. The heat wave, which has been dominating southern Europe and the Mediterranean region for weeks, also arrived in Germany on Tuesday (July 19). The heat leader was Emsdetten in North Rhine-Westphalia on what was probably the warmest day of the year with exactly 40 degrees. The high summer temperatures are a health challenge for everyone.
Heat in Germany and Bavaria: Doctors and scientists give valuable tips
Physicians give valuable tips in this situation, which is tricky for health. In an interview with the ARD Tagesschau, Franziska Matthies-Wiesler from the Helmholtz Center in Munich had simple advice on how to cope better with the heat. “Drink enough, stay in the shade, put on a hat, wear light clothing, don’t eat so heavy,” she explained on Tuesday night’s show: “These are general tips for the population that are actually effective.”
General tips and advice against the heat
“Drink enough, stay in the shade, put on a hat, wear light clothing, don’t eat so heavy.”
Franziska Matthies-Wiesler, biologist and epidemiologist from the Helmholtz Center in Munich
“Drinking enough fluids and taking in minerals to replace the fluid lost through sweating.”
Doctor Susanne Johna, Chairwoman of the Marburg Association
However, simple advice is not enough for a medical association. In view of the heat that is to be expected in the coming years, the Marburger Bund is calling for a “national heat protection plan” for Germany. “Because that of course helps the states and municipalities, which are in principle responsible, if there are framework specifications,” said Susanne Johna, chairwoman of the Marburg Association, of the Tagesschau: “Not everyone has to reinvent the wheel.” That’s not all . She criticized the hesitation of the traffic light government and federal politics.
“Actually, I don’t understand why people don’t even say urgently that we have to start. We had the first major heat wave in Germany in 1994. It is now clear to everyone that this will happen more frequently,” explained the doctor. Climate change is contributing, she said, “that there are more and more extreme weather, also in Germany”. The Marburger Bund therefore demands:
“National heat protection plan”?: The Marburger Bund demands these measures for Germany
- Short-term goals of a national heat protection plan: These include public education and training for health care workers. “What needs to happen in the senior citizens’ facilities? How can help for the homeless look like? How can neighborhood help work?” Johna gives examples.
- Medium-term goals: According to the Marburger Bund, these include increased greening of cities and better shading of buildings in new buildings.
- Long-term goals : Improve climate protection in Germany. “Now everyone is calling for air conditioning. That worsens the emissions even more,” says Johna and remains general on this point.
In the video: heat in Germany – tips against sunstroke and heat collapse
Heat in Germany and Bavaria: doctor warns older people and pregnant women
Johna also warned with regard to the hospitals: “The summer corona wave already meant that emergency rooms had to be canceled in individual areas and rescue services were overwhelmed. It’s only going to get worse the longer this heat wave lasts. The more often we have tropical nights over 20 degrees.”
Elderly people, small children and pregnant women in particular suffer from the heat.
In particular, older people, smaller children and pregnant women would suffer from this heat, the doctor continued. She advises: “Drink enough and take in minerals to compensate for the loss of fluid through sweating.” (pm)
