The heat wave that is already hitting part of the Peninsula will arrive in Lanzarote during the weekend. So much so that the Public Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has issued red, orange and yellow warnings for the island.
In the case of red warnings, which represent a high risk to the health of the population, the most affected municipalities will be San Bartolomé and Tías. On this occasion they will remain from this Thursday, August 10 until next Sunday.
The thresholds for establishing warnings in the province of Las Palmas is 33 degrees Celsius. The decision to choose the color of the warning is determined by an algorithm that takes into account the expected maximum temperatures, the established threshold and, at least, three days of persistence.
Meanwhile, the yellow warning for high temperatures will remain on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12 in Arrecife.
The General Directorate of Public Health, which coordinates in the Canary Islands the Plan of Preventive Actions of the Effects of Excess Temperatures on Health since 2004, has established a system of epidemiological surveillance of the impact of high temperatures on the health of the population, coordinated with the care and emergency centers of the Canary Islands, as well as the warning to these centers and the affected municipalities of the forecast of alert situations.
Meanwhile, for the beginning of the week, the island escapes the heat wave warning that the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has established in part of Spain.
Forecast for the first part of the week
Aemet predicts average temperatures of 28 degrees on the island this Monday. Nor will the wind be the main protagonist, with speeds of between 19 and 28 kilometers per hour. Thus, the maximum gusts will occur in Teguise, with up to 39 kilometers per hour or in Tías with 36.
For Tuesday, the wind is expected to continue to decrease. Thus, it will reach light wind from the northwest, turning at the end of the day to moderate northeast, somewhat more intense in inland areas. In this case, the winds will be between 14 and 23 kilometers per hour on average. Also, temperatures will remain below 30 degrees, with the highest points after noon and before 6:00 p.m.
On Wednesday, the island will reach a maximum of 30 degrees and will remain at a minimum above 20. The wind will be from the northeast and, according to Aemet's forecast, will not exceed twenty kilometers per hour.
Recommendations
Vulnerability to high temperatures includes personal risk factors, such as being over 65 years of age, infants, pregnant women, etc., environmental, local and occupational, among others. The recommendations addressed to the vulnerable population especially are:
- Stay as long as possible in cool places, in the shade or air-conditioned, and cool off whenever necessary.
- Reduce physical activity and avoid practicing outdoor sports in the central hours of the day.
- Drink water or liquids frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty and regardless of the physical activity you perform.
- Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or very sugary, as they can promote dehydration.
- Pay special attention to: babies, children, pregnant or lactating women, as well as the elderly or people with diseases that may be aggravated by heat (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, pathologies that make mobility difficult, dementia and other mental illnesses, as well as drug or alcohol abuse). Although anyone can suffer a problem related to heat.
- Wear light, loose clothing that allows perspiration.
- Do not leave anyone in a parked and closed vehicle (especially minors, the elderly or people with chronic diseases).
- Consult a health professional for symptoms that last more than an hour and that may be related to high temperatures.
- Eat light meals that help replenish the salts lost through sweat (salads, fruits, vegetables, juices, etc.).
- Keep medicines in a cool place; heat can alter their composition and effects.
Other preventive plans in the Canary Islands
Faced with a situation of forecast of high temperatures, the Government of the Canary Islands can activate this Plan for the Prevention of Excess Temperatures in the Health of People, with health risk warnings, as well as other plans, such as the Specific Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Care for Risks due to Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA), through the declaration of alert for a situation of risk for the population, property and the environment.
