by There Ministry of Health announced yesterday afternoon that Catalonia was activating the first phase of the action plan to prevent the effects of the heat wave on health (Pocs) a month and a half earlier than usual to “minimize the consequences” of the rising temperatures. “We brought it forward because the heat advances”, supported the “minister”, Manel Balcells. “it catches up with us a little by surprise this summer in the spring,” admitted the head of Salut. These are some of the keys of the regime.
What is the plan about?
The activation of the plan, endowed with 10 million euroswill be used to analyze the mortality data of the four major hospitals and some primary care of 10 Catalan municipalities detect possible increases which can be derived from the increase in temperature.
Why will vigilance be doubled this year?
As ‘Minister’ Balcells pointed out yesterday, the different departments who participate in the plan (Salut, Drets Socials and Protecció Civil) will have to look twice as much due to the context of extreme drought in which Catalonia is located. Moreover, he predicted that the summer could be complicated, which is why he insisted on extreme measures.
What are the recommendations to the public?
As the Public Health Secretary explained yesterday, Carmen Cabezas, present in the media attention with the ‘conseller’, this plan includes recommendations addressed to citizens as hydrate often with water, stay home during the hottest hours And go out in the wee hours of the morning or when Sun sets, among others. They are the same as any summer, but advanced by a month and a half.
With whom do you need to be particularly careful?
He “extreme heat it’s a risk factor What imbalances to fragile patients“, families must therefore insist on the protection of most vulnerable people. Doctors have already alerted EL PERIÓDICO that this year there will be a record number of heat-related deaths. Prolonged high temperatures can be fatal to elderly people living alone do not hydrate well and have trouble maintaining refrigerated his home.
Why are older people more at risk?
There the elderly, “polymedicated”, with many health problems, to whom prolonged heat harms a lot, is the one that worries the most. “It’s old people who stay, for many days, at high temperature. We don’t necessarily talk temperatures of 50ºC, but 30°C or 32°C. Polymedicated elderly people, having been in this way for several days, lose a lot of fluid and suffer from dehydration,” explained a few days ago to EL PERIÓDICO Mireia Puig, director of the emergency service of the Hospital of Santa Creu and Sant Pau (Barcelona).
The geriatrician of the Hospital de Sant Pau Jordi Mascaro alerted that old people “don’t sweat” so many times he is not aware that he is hot. “And often, when they are thirsty it is already late”, sharp. This geriatrician insists, in hot weather, on increasing hydration and limiting sun exposure.
