How to get through the heatwave

This summer has seen a long, hard heatwave hit Europe, with temperatures reaching 45°C in the south of Spain during the day and 31°C at night. Portugal was the hardest hit, though, with 46.8°C recorded just over 60 miles from the capital.

When these high temperatures occur, and they have in nearly all European countries, it’s essential to look out for those at the most risk, namely infants and the elderly. Making sure they stay hydrated enough is very important.

Drink enough water. When it gets this hot, we lose a lot more moisture than usual. From 38°C and upwards you should thus be drinking on average 2 litres of water every day, that’s 1.5 litres more than on a normal day. You can also avoid going out between the hours of 12 and 4pm if possible, as this is when the sun is at its hottest. And of course, there are things you can do at home to keep the heat out, such as closing shutters or curtains and windows during the day then opening them wide at night.