A heat wave in the USA and more than 40 degrees in Greece and Italy: Hanns-Christian Gunga, expert for extreme environments knows when record temperatures are becoming a deadly threat – and how to can protect.
For days, people in Greece have been suffering from a historic heat wave. Temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius are expected in Italy. And an exceptionally strong heat dome has formed over the northeast of the USA. Six vacationers have already died while hiking on Mediterranean islands, and experts fear that many more deaths could follow.
Professor Gunga, you have been working with extreme environments for a long time. How dangerous are such record temperatures?
Outside temperatures of 40 degrees and more are far beyond what we were evolved to cope with. For many people, such heat will be fatal.