How to behave correctly in the heat

Not everyone is equally affected by
high heat.
Some people are particularly at risk
in high heat.
It is also said:
These people belong
to the risk group.

The risk group includes:

• People over 65
  The risk increases with age.
  The body can no longer
  sweat as well.
  The body can no longer
  cool itself as well.
  Older people are often
  not thirsty enough.
  They then drink too little.
  The body can no longer
  cool itself well.
  The body gets too hot.
• Babies and small children
• Pregnant women
• People
  who are very thin
• People with excess weight
• People
  who work hard and
  work outdoors.
  For example, construction workers.
• People
  who do a lot of sport
• People who
  are currently ill.
  For example, with diarrhea
  or a fever.
• People with
  serious illnesses.
  For example, people with heart disease
  or lung disease.
• People
  who drink a lot of alcohol
  or take drugs.
• People
  who have no home.

The body can adapt
to the temperature.
This means:
The body adapts
to the temperature.
But the bodycannot adapt
quickly.
The body needs time to do this.
The body needs a particularly long time for old and sick people
.

It is dangerous

• when it gets hot for the first time in May and June
  
• when it is hot for a long time
• when the air is very humid
• when there is little wind
• when the sun is shining very strongly.
• if it does not get cooler
  than 20 degrees at night.

The heat can be partly to blame
if the air is bad.
Because when it's hot
there is often a lot of ozone in the air.
Ozone is a gas.
Ozone in the air is bad
for your health.
Ozone is created, for example,
by car exhaust fumes.
And when the air is warm.
Some people then have problems
with breathing.
Or with their eyes
and with their skin.
There is more ozone in the air
in cities than in the countryside.
Nevertheless, people
also have problems with too much ozone in the air there.

The sun emits more than
light and heat.
The sun also emits
ultraviolet radiation.
The short word for this is
UV rays.
You cannot see UV rays.
And you cannot feel them either.

UV radiation is
dangerous for the skin.
If you spend too much time in the sun
you can get sunburn.
Some people get an
sun allergy.
If you spend a lot of time in the sun

you can even get skin cancer.
This is a serious illness.

UV radiation is
dangerous for the eyes.
If you look directly
into the sun:
Then you can, for example,
get conjunctivitis
.

UV radiation is bad
for the immune system.
If the immune system is weak
you get sick more quickly.

This is the most important thing:
Look out for other people.
Older people in particular
usually don't tell
immediately that they need help.
Because theydon't want to be a burden to others
.
If you see
that someone is unwell:
Offer your help.

Here are some important tips:

• It is particularly hot between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  
  Donot exercise during this time
  .
  Only do strenuous things
  early in the morning or in the evening.

• Ventilate
  in the morning and evening.
  This brings cool air
  into the home.
• Close the windows
  during the day.
• Cover the windows from
  when the sun is shining.
  For example, with a curtain
  or with a blind.
• So the sun
  doesn't shine into the room.
  

• Electrical appliances get warm
  when they are switched on.
  It gets warmer in the home
  due to the appliances.
  It is best to switch off
  all appliances
  that you do not absolutely need.
• Cool your body.
  Take a cold foot bath, for example
  .

• If you take
  medication every day:
  Medication is often sensitive.
  If it gets too hot
  it may no longer work.
  Please read
  the package leaflet.
  It tells you
  how best to store the medication
  .
  You can also ask your doctor
  or the pharmacy.

• Do not stay in the car
  when the car is parked in the sun.
  It quickly becomes very hot in the car
  .

• Provide some
  air movement.
  For example, with a fan
  or with a ventilator.
• Take care of yourself.
  If you are not feeling well :
  Ask friends or neighbors
  for help.

Protect your body from the heat with the right clothing
.

• Wear airy things.
  For example,
  things made of cotton wool.
• Wear light-colored clothing.
  Dark clothing heats up the body
  even more.
• Wear sunglasses.
  Sunglasses protect you from
  UV radiation.
• Wear a sun hat
  or a cap.
  Otherwise you will quickly get a sunstroke
  .
• If you go out in the sun:
  Use a sun cream.

Proper nutrition is particularly important on hot days.

What you can do:

• Eat foods
  that contain a lot of water.
  For example, vegetables or fruit.
• Eat as little as possible
  foods with a lot of protein.
  For example
  meat, fish or dairy products.
  These foods
  heat up the body.
• Do not eat a lot at once.
  Eat several small meals instead
  
  

• Drink enough.
  For example
  • Tap water
  • Herbal tea
  • Tea with mint
  • Tea with lemon.
  
  Please drink
  • No drinks with sugar
  • No cola
  • no alcohol.
  It is best to drink
  a glass of water every hour.
  Even if you are not thirsty.
  If you feel thirsty, your body
  has already lost a lot of fluid.

Attention:
The drinks should
not be ice-cold.

Heat can be very dangerous
for your health.
People can die
from heat.
That's why it's important:
If you fall ill due to heat
you need help quickly.
These can be signs
of a heat-related illness:

• The person often vomits.
• The person is confused.
• The person is unconscious.
• The body temperature is
  very high.
• The person has cramps.
• The person has
  severe headaches.

Attention:
If you see this in a person:
Call the emergency services immediately.
The telephone number is 112.
Until the emergency doctor arrives
You can help the person like this:
Take the person
into the shade.
Or into a cool room.
You can also apply damp cloths to the person
.
For example on the head.
Or on the arms and legs.
Fan the person with air.
If the person is unconscious
or not breathing:

• Provide first aid.
• Call
  for help from other people.

When you are out and about in Aachen:
You can get drinking water at many places
.
Youdo not have to pay for the water
.
You only need to bring your own bottle
.
The drinking water points are
in these administrative buildings:

• Katschhof
• City Library
  Couvenstraße 15, 1st floor
• Hackländer Straße 1
• Warehouse road 20
• Mozartstrasse 2 to 10
• in the Städteregions-Haus
  at Zollernstraße 10.

Attention:
You canonly get the drinking water here
during opening hours.

The drinking water fountains are open day and night

• at the entrance to the Elisengarten
• in the Ursulinerstraße
• on the Münsterplatz
• at the Mösche fountain
• in Alexanderstraße at the
  Hotmannspief fountain
• in Heinrich-Holland-Straße
• in Aachen North
  
  

Free drinking water is also available in stores and institutions
.
This sign is on the door there.
You can find more information on this website
:
www.refill-deutschland.de

The German Weather Service
monitors our weather.
The short word for this is D-W-D.
The DWD warns of the heat.
Go to the website
www.hitzewarnungen.de

Or download the warning weather app to your cell phone at
.
Search for
DWD WarnWetter.