Working in the morning, resting in the heat – that could make hot summers in Germany more bearable. Many vacationers from Spain know the siesta. A heat wave is currently demanding people there.
The people of the Mediterranean continue to groan under the heat in many places. In Italy, more than 40 degrees were measured on Tuesday, and the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca was also hit by the hot temperatures. The people there are used to mastering their everyday lives even in the heat. The siesta, i.e. the rest period in the hottest time of the day, could also be copied in Germany, some think.
“When it’s hot, we should be guided by the way southern countries work: getting up early, working productively in the morning and taking a siesta at noon is a concept that we should adopt in the summer months,” said the chairman of the Federal Association of Physicians in the Public Health Service ( BVÖGD), Johannes Nießen, the editorial network Germany (RND).
Doctor: Difficult tasks better in the morning – and siesta later
“People are not as efficient as usual when it’s very hot. Poor sleep without cooling down at night also leads to concentration problems,” said Nießen. Complex work requirements should therefore be postponed until the early hours of the morning, advises the doctor.
Siesta belongs to Spain like paella and bullfighting. When the sun is particularly hot – between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. – people withdraw. Offices then take longer breaks, and “Closed” signs are hung outside in most shops. Unlike in the past, air conditioning is now available almost everywhere in Spain, but the tradition endures. During the siesta, however, very few Spaniards still take a nap like they used to. You go to the gym or the swimming pool or have longer lunches with family or colleagues. Of course, you have to work longer hours in the evenings.
Health Meteorologist: Siesta is a great thing
A siesta, as is common in southern countries, has one purpose above all: “You can reduce activities and sun exposure during the day when it’s hot,” explained Andreas Matzarakis, head of the Center for Medical Meteorological Research of the German Weather Service (DWD). From his point of view, it would also be a “great thing” in Germany on hot days.
The health meteorologist emphasized that people would have to learn to behave differently in the heat. “There has to be a culture change,” Matzarakis said. It should be checked, for example, whether working hours could be adjusted accordingly. But even flexitime regulations with a particularly early start to work could help. Diet should also be adapted to hot temperatures: “I prefer a lettuce or watermelon – and not a pork knuckle.”
Depending on the profession, experts see difficulties
Should a siesta be introduced, other questions would also have to be considered: “What about the emergency services? What about carers and nurses – and with the people being cared for if they also go to the siesta?” said Matzarakis.
It would also be difficult for construction workers, for example, who have to travel long distances and have to pay attention to noise protection, as the federal chairman of the industrial union for construction, agriculture and the environment (IG BAU), Robert Feiger, noted. Nevertheless: “At these temperatures, at which the thermometer is now repeatedly scratching the 40-degree mark, there is only one thing to do: get off the building, off the field, off the dirty roof terrace,” said the trade unionist, according to the announcement. State aid should then be used to pay for the missing working hours.
Health Minister sees employers and employees in demand
“Siesta in the heat is certainly not a bad suggestion,” wrote Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on Twitter. However, the SPD politician does not see a need for politics in the question. “Employers and employees should negotiate this themselves,” said the Minister of Health. “Medically safe for many professions.” FDP health politician Lars Lindemann also spoke out against political interference.
The employers’ association BDA, on the other hand, sees potential for the legislature: Employers are already taking their duty of care very seriously. But: “A reform of the working time law can help in the event of longer breaks, in order to give employees the opportunity to work more flexibly,” said the statement for the RND. “This can also include longer lunch breaks if the operational processes allow it and the employee and employer agree.” Politicians must create the framework for individual and flexible working time solutions.
More than 40 degrees expected in Mallorca, Sicily and Sardinia
In Spain, the peak of the third heat wave of the summer on Tuesday made locals and tourists sweat a lot. The holiday stronghold of Mallorca was hit the hardest this time: the national weather service Aemet announced maximum temperatures of at least 43 degrees for the north and east of the island. 38 degrees were already measured on Ballermann in the early afternoon. According to Aemet, more and more intense heat waves are being registered in Spain. Experts attribute this to man-made climate change.
According to data from the Air Force weather service, 41 degrees were measured in the Italian capital Rome at noon, and 43 to 44 degrees in some areas of Sardinia and Sicily. There is no relief in sight for the time being. The Ministry of Health announced the highest heat alert for 23 major cities on Wednesday. The heat wave is likely to continue throughout the week.
During heat waves, the high night temperature is a health risk, as extreme weather expert John Nairn from the World Weather Organization (WMO) said. “The body cannot recover then.”
Temperatures in Germany more moderate again
In Germany, the DWD meteorologists expect a mixed weather situation in the coming days – with cooler sea air in the north and muggy warm weather in the south. In the north and northwest it should be up to 25 degrees warm on Wednesday, otherwise the maximum values are 24 to 30 degrees.
Tweet Lauterbach Clouds of smoke visible from satellite Reports State television Civil defense with maps of forest fire risk WMO on the heat wave IFRC Forest fire statistics Heat levels from the Italian Ministry of Health Italian Air Force weather service Communication from Aemet “OK Diario”