Thursday 11 June is the nationwide Heat Action Day. To mark the occasion, the City of Chemnitz Environmental Agency is providing information about the health risks of heat and effective protective measures in everyday life.
High temperatures and longer periods of heat put a strain on the body and can have health consequences, especially for vulnerable groups of the population. These include the elderly, infants and young children, pregnant women, chronically ill people, people in need of care and people who work outdoors or spend long periods in public spaces.
Everyone can take simple measures: drink enough, avoid direct sunlight, shift physical exertion to cooler times of day, wear light clothing, shade living spaces during the day and look out for relatives, neighbours and people living alone. Warning signs such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, exhaustion or confusion should be taken seriously.
An important contribution to heat protection is access to water and cooler places to stay. Drinking fountains and refill stations are available in the city of Chemnitz where drinking bottles can be refilled free of charge. The "Cool City Map" also shows drinking facilities, fountains, parks, green spaces and other places to cool off.
As part of the climate adaptation programme, the city of Chemnitz is further expanding its heat prevention measures. This includes information for the population, the expansion of drinking facilities, more attention for cool places and long-term measures for a heat-resilient city.
Further information can be found at: www.chemnitz.de/hitze
Cool city map: www.chemnitz.de/coolerstadtplan