It will be extremely hot in the coming days. The Ministry of Health and the weather service have issued tips on how to behave. Citizens are called upon to pay attention to fellow human beings who are particularly at risk.
The German Weather Service (DWD) and the Federal Ministry of Health are warning of a heat wave with maximum values of 28 to 35 degrees in the coming days. The ministry recommends all citizens, especially pregnant women, parents with small children, the elderly and the chronically ill, to be careful to avoid health consequences. Citizens should also check if they know older or disabled people to whom they can offer their help.
The recommendations include drinking enough water, avoiding physical exertion, especially around midday and in the early afternoon, applying sunscreen and staying in the shade, and keeping the apartment cool. “Only when it’s cooler outside than in the apartment is ventilation recommended,” it said. Active cooling, for example with a damp cloth, can also help.
heat protection plan in preparation
The Ministry of Health is currently working on a nationwide heat protection plan. It envisages using the DWD’s heat warning system as standard. The federal states should check whether a number of measures should be mandatory at certain warning levels. Among other things, warnings about the onset of heat waves are also taken into account.
When the plans were presented, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach announced that they wanted to be based on France, where protective measures are triggered across the country depending on the severity of a heat wave.
These range from cold rooms to heat action plans for care facilities and clinics to calls to old people to drink regularly. In the past, thousands of people died from heat each year. According to Lauterbach, this not only applies to older people, but also to pregnant women, the chronically ill and the homeless.
Up to 37 degrees on Sunday
According to the DWD, the temperatures will continue to rise on Sunday: From the Upper Rhine to the eastern center, maximum values of up to 37 degrees are possible, and the 30-degree mark is likely to be exceeded in many places. Increasing humidity also causes the heat load to rise significantly. You can only cool off in the higher mountains and when there is a sea wind on the coast. In the western half of Germany, there is a risk of locally violent thunderstorms with severe weather potential over the course of Sunday.
The new week starts muggy on Monday in the south and east with highs of between 30 and 35 degrees. There is a risk of severe thunderstorms in the region. In the west and north it is slightly cooler with maximum temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees. There may be occasional showers or isolated thunderstorms. According to the DWD, there is no risk of severe weather.