Outdoor activities in Lanzarote suspended due to heat wave

The ban will remain in place between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. this Thursday

August 10 2023 (12:47 WEST)
Updated in August 10 2023 (13:06 WEST)
People enjoy Arrecife on a hot summer day. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.
People enjoy Arrecife on a hot summer day. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.

The Cabildo of Lanzarote has suspended outdoor activities between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. this Thursday following the alert established by the Government of the Canary Islands on the island due to high temperatures and haze.

This is in addition to the yellow and orange warnings issued by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) since 11:00 a.m. this Thursday. As reported by the island's Cabildo in a statement, the suspension measures will be in effect until the alert ends.

It is time to heed the recommendations and avoid hours of high exposure to the sun, especially people who are within the risk group”, says the president of the Security and Emergency Consortium, Francisco Aparicio. 

Recommendations for high temperatures

The Security and Emergency Consortium places special emphasis on measures aimed at risk groups, such as people over 65 years of age, patients with chronic, neurological and psychiatric diseases, and children under one year of age. These include: 

• Protect yourself from the sun and heat.

• It is recommended to stay in places protected from the sun as long as possible and in the coolest rooms of the house. During the hours of sunshine, lower the window blinds. 

Open the windows of the house at night to cool it down

• It is advisable to use some type of air conditioning (fans, air conditioning) to cool the environment. But remember that if the temperature in your house exceeds 35º, the fan will no longer be effective in lowering the temperature. If you do not have air conditioning, you should be in air-conditioned places (shopping centers, cinemas, etc.) for at least two hours a day. 

Keep in mind that when entering or leaving these places, there are sudden changes in temperature that can affect you

• On the street, avoid direct sunlight. Wear a cap or hat, wear light clothing (such as cotton), light colors and that is not tight. 

Try to walk in the shade, be under an umbrella on the beach and rest in cool places on the street or in enclosed spaces that are air-conditioned. 

• Carry water and drink often. 

• Never leave children, the elderly or pets inside a closed vehicle. 

Avoid going out and doing prolonged physical exercises in the central hours of the day, which is when it is hottest. Reduce physical activity in the hottest hours. 

Eat light and regular meals, drinks and foods rich in water and mineral salts, such as fruits and vegetables, which help you replenish the salts lost through sweat. 

Do not drink alcoholic beverages. Avoid very hot foods that provide many calories. 

Help others. If you know elderly or sick people who live alone, visit them once a day. 

If you are taking medication, consult your doctor if it may influence thermoregulation or if it needs to be adjusted or changed. 

• Important: for any request for information or assistance call 012. Symptoms to watch out for in a heat wave 

If you experience discomfort, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, feeling of cramps, excessive sweating, redness of the skin, it is recommended to stop the activity you are doing, cool off and rest in a cool place and drink water. 

● If symptoms persist or there is no improvement, assessment at the nearest health care point is recommended or call the emergency number 112. 

If symptoms such as elevated body temperature, severe headache, fatigue or loss of consciousness appear, you may be suffering from heat stroke, so you should seek help immediately by calling the emergency number 112.

Heat on Las Cucharas beach in Costa Teguise. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.
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