A decalogue anti-sultriness by the Ministry of Health - La Stampa

Into What to eat, what to wear, when to get out, and other precautions to fight the heat coming in Italian cities.

Into The Ministry of Health has issued a set of guidelines anti-sultriness, 10 simple rules that serve to limit exposure to high temperatures, facilitate cooling of the body, to avoid the risk of dehydration and protect the health of the most vulnerable.

1.Uscire at home in the cooler hours of the day

Into Avoid going out in the open air during the hottest hours, ie from 11.00 to 18.00. If you must exit is important to protect your head with a hat and light-colored eyes with sunglasses, it is also necessary to protect the parts of the body exposed to the sun with a sunscreen with a high SPF.

2.Wear appropriate clothing and light

Into Whether at home or outdoors, it is advisable to wear light clothing, non-members, preferably of natural fibers to absorb sweat and let the skin breathe.

3.Rinfrescare the home environment and work

Into Use shields, shutters and blinds closed, the windows exposed to the sun. Close the windows during the day and open them during the coolest hours of the day (evening and night) to allow air exchange inside air with cooler outside. If you use the air conditioner, remember that this instrument should be used effectively by taking some precautions to avoid health consequences and excessive energy consumption. In particular, it is recommended to use preferably in the presence of high ambient temperatures, to maintain the temperature between 24 ° C – 26 ° C, avoiding large swings than outside; frost is important in the transition from a warm to a colder and finally it is recommended to avoid concomitant use of appliances that produce heat and energy consumption, and not to neglect the maintenance of the system and the regular cleaning of filters.

4. Reduce body temperature

Into Making bathrooms and showers with warm water or wet face and arms with fresh water, may also be useful to put a wet towel on the nape.

5.Ridurre the level of physical activity

Into the hottest hours of the day to practice outdoors avoid vigorous exercise or heavy work

6.Bere regularly and eat properly

Into When it is very hot fluids and minerals lost through sweating intense, which is why you should drink at least 2 liters of water a day (unless otherwise directed by their doctor). The elderly and children are particularly at risk of dehydration. Avoid drinking alcohol and limit your intake of carbonated beverages or too cold. Eat light foods and preferably with high water content (salad and fruit). Pay particular attention to the preservation of foods and avoid letting outdoors for more than 2 hours.

7.Conservare medications correctly

Into ILeggere carefully how to instructions given on the packaging of drugs and keep all medications in their packaging, away from sources of heat and direct sunlight. Store in a refrigerator drugs for which there is a storage temperature does not exceed 25-30 ° C.

8.Adottare some precautions if you go out in the car

Into When you have to get in a car parked in the sun you need to open the windows and doors before sitting in the car, then start the journey with the windows open or use the air conditioning system. Be careful when placing children on the child restraint system, make sure that they are not overheated. When you park the car never leave, even for a few minutes, people or animals in the cockpit. Caution! you should not leave for any reason a child alone in the car: in children is a high risk of death due to hyperthermia (heat stroke). When transporting a child in the back seat of the car, you should leave their personal belongings (purse, phone, briefcase, etc..) In the back seat, next to the small. This habit can help you not to forget, when you exit the car, which has delivered a baby with him, also it is good to put the child’s personal items (diapers, baby bottles and bags) in the front seat, so that will help to remember the presence of the child in the car. If yo u see a child alone in the car immediately call 112 or the 113.

9.Adottare special precautions

Into When it’s very hot, older people with chronic diseases (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, diabetes, etc.) and people who take drugs, they must observe some special precautions: Consult your physician for a possible adjustment of therapy and frequency of clinical and laboratory (eg for diabetics is advisable to increase the frequency of blood glucose testing); report to their physician any discomfort, however slight, that occurs during drug therapy, not ever suspend its own initiative ongoing therapy .

10. Supervise and care for the most vulnerable

Into In prolonged periods of intense heat, pay attention to family members or neighbors very elderly, especially if they live alone and, where possible, help them to perform some small chores, like grocery shopping, pick up your medications at the pharmacy, etc. .. Report to the health and social services any situations that require an intervention, such as people living in situations of extreme poverty or danger to health (such as people living on the streets).