The extreme heat forced Madrid’s mayor to ban non-essential travel for about half a million public workers. The heatwave has also caused forest fires in Portugal and Spain. Takeaway: One person was killed in a fire in the northwestern region of Galicia that broke out on Thursday.
The heatwave has been especially severe because it’s been accompanied by very little rain for five weeks straight now—at least until today when some rain was reported in parts of Portugal and Spain. Meteorologists say that we need “a lot more” than what we’ve had so far in order to get back on track with regards to drought conditions across much of Europe this summer.
The heatwave in Spain is not only making the holidaymakers sweat, but it’s also causing concern. Some Spanish towns have come up with unusual ways to cope with the heatwave.
Ways to cope with the heatwave in Spain
Because of this unusual heat, some Spanish towns have come up with interesting ways to cope with it—and they’re seeing some success
-In Sanxenxo, in northern Spain, the local council offered free ice cream to children as they arrived at school.
-In Castellón, in eastern Spain, the town hall’s air conditioning system was used to cool down a public fountain and 11 parks across town.
-In Granada province’s capital city of Almería, officials opened 10 public swimming pools and invited citizens to take advantage of them for free until midnight on Friday night (local time).
Is there a legal minimum working temperature during a heatwave?
There is no legal minimum working temperature during a heatwave, but employers have a responsibility to ensure their employees are safe. Employers should take measures to protect their employees from the effects of heat, including:
-providing water and rest breaks
-making sure employees are aware of the risks associated with working in hot temperatures
Among other requirements provided by applicable law.
Look out for health risks in Spain
Avoid alcohol, especially when in the sun. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more frequently, and you need to stay hydrated during this heatwave.
If your child or pet is in the car, keep them there until the heatwave is over. Animals are not able to sweat like we humans do; they rely on panting and saliva evaporation for cooling themselves down.
Vehicles become very hot inside once parked, so don’t leave your animal unattended inside one for too long – even if it’s only for five minutes!
Stay indoors as much as possible during the hottest part of day (roughly between noon and 5pm). If you must go out during these hours: wear sunscreen; wear light-colored clothing so that your body doesn’t have to work harder in order to keep cool; take frequent rests along shady routes; drink plenty of water – even if you’re not thirsty!
Do not go swimming in the sea unless you know what’s normal for local temperatures because unusually high temperatures may cause dangerous currents like rip tides that could pull someone under water.