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The year 2023 was a very hot year and 2024 is expected to be similar and even with higher temperatures. Due to the above, the Health authorities have deployed to call on the population to take the necessary measures to avoid the risks that exposure to heat or extreme heat causes in people.
In this context, the head of the Epidemiology Department of the Minsal, Christian García, together with the Seremi of Health of the RM, Gonzalo Soto, arrived at the Ramón Cruz Park, in the commune of Ñuñoa, to deliver measures to the community that gathers in that sector to do physical activity during the morning.
“High temperatures can generate different types of effects. We are accustomed, in the summers, for example, to mild problems, which are sunburns, which we have to reinforce in young children and older people; Using sunscreen factor is essential to prevent damage that is minor, but it can also cause damage that is serious.
Heat stroke can affect all people and, especially, the most vulnerable, children and the elderly or people with different chronic diseases,” García explained.
Along the same lines, the authority emphasized some recommendations such as staying in shady places and being protected from the sun during the hottest moments, that is, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.; In addition to maintaining hydration, drinking plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
“Older people don’t always feel thirsty at the right time to start hydrating, so we have to constantly stay hydrated. In normal situations we should be drinking between 8 to 12 glasses of water a day. On these occasions, we have to stay much more hydrated and hopefully we are consuming more of that to avoid some kind of heat-related problem,” he added.
In addition to the direct impact of heat on people, another element of concern is the state of food, which is also affected by high temperatures. «There are several risk factors with high temperatures.
One of them is food preservation, where we have provided recommendations to avoid the loss of the cold chain in the most sensitive foods, since we have a seasonal increase in Foodborne Diseases (ETA) in the summer months.” , explained the Minister of Health, Gonzalo Soto, who reported that in 2023 more than 180 outbreaks due to food from the RM were recorded, more than a thousand people affected and more than 60 hospitalized.
On the other hand, he also stressed that fire prevention is essential and reinforced the importance of taking precautions so that high temperatures do not affect our health.
Diseases caused by heat
If you present symptoms that indicate a health problem caused by heat, it is important to take measures immediately.
If the person is dehydrated, they may manifest thirst, a dry mouth, concentrated or limited urine, lack of sweating, dry skin, lethargy and disorientation, muscle weakness, dizziness or fainting, cramps and/or headache.
Given this, all activity must be stopped and moved to a place protected from the heat; drink plenty of water or drinks containing electrolytes; cool down by applying cold cloths or water to your head, face, and neck; and ideally, stay accompanied.
Meanwhile, if symptoms such as hot and red skin, high body temperature, rapid and strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and/or loss of consciousness are observed, then it would be heat stroke.
In these circumstances, you must go or contact an emergency service (call 131, SAMU phone) and while waiting for the arrival of professional assistance, the person must lie down in a cool place, without exposure to the sun; Cool the body with water and cold cloths, and do not give it anything to drink.
If you have any questions, people can contact Salud Responde at 600 360 7777, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
