Hot times in MV: temperatures up to 37 degrees - what kind of children?

Hot times in MV: temperatures up to 37 degrees - what kind of children?

The heat wave rolls in Northern Germany! This week, decent midsummer weather awaits us, as the German Weather Service (DWD) reports. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in particular on Wednesday, it gets really hot, with maximum temperatures that could reach up to 37 degrees Celsius. But the days before that promise warm temperatures: on Monday it is 23 to 26 degrees, on Tuesday we go up to 28 to 31 degrees, whereby Usedom remains the coolest region with 26 degrees. The high temperatures are particularly noticeable in the southwest of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

With these temperatures, the risk of health problems also increases. However, the nightly temperatures should fall to a tolerable level of 16 to 18 degrees, even tropical nights over 20 degrees are not to be expected. On Wednesday evening, a deep south of Southern England could pull over northern German realms and bring us some cooling as well as possibly rain and thunderstorms.

Health effects of the heat

As the DAK children's and youth report shows, the number of heat problems requiring treatment increases at temperatures above 30 degrees, especially in children and adolescents between 0 and 17 years. There is something! DAK state chief Andreas Mirwald demands effective heat protection plans for daycare centers, schools and playgrounds. We not only have to protect ourselves in the heat, but also in the long term: According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a further increase in heat can be expected due to climate change in the coming decades.

Eastern people, pregnant women, children and people with chronic previous illnesses are particularly at risk. Preventive heat protection is therefore urgently needed. The RKI has been carrying out evaluations to the heat -related brazenness for many years and works closely with various ministries and institutions to develop effective protective measures.

heat action plans: municipal measures are required

In Germany, the countries and municipalities are responsible for heat action plans. These plans should effectively protect the local population from the consequences of extreme heat phases. Comprehensive recommendations for the creation of such plans were already developed by the federal and state governments in 2017, based on a WHO guideline and taking into account local conditions.

The measures in the heat action plan vary and can include:

• New concepts of urban design and land use planning
• Measures for more city green
• Short -term actions for more shading
• Special procedures in health and care facilities
• Information campaigns
• monitoring

More and more federal states, cities and municipalities have already implemented their own heat action plans or are planning this. According to German environmental aid, however, there is still a lot to do, since many cities are not sufficiently prepared for extreme heat. Many people feel uncomfortable, especially at temperatures from 30 degrees, and that should give us thinking.

When the sun is burning, it is high time to take care of your own health and prepare well! Stay hydrated and look for shadows so that we can survive this heat wave.

For further information on the health effects of heat, visit the Robert Koch-Institut At the Federal Ministry of Health over.