The first walking day of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, which was to start on Tuesday, will be canceled due to the expected heat.
The so-called National Heat Plan will also come into effect from Monday, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced on Sunday. The institute warns against smog. RIVM advises people who are sensitive to smog to stay indoors and to limit heavy physical exertion.
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High temperatures are expected to continue through Wednesday. Tuesday will be the warmest, KNMI predicts, with temperatures above 35 degrees. RIVM advises people to apply sunscreen, to drink plenty of water and to limit intensive exercise.
The extreme weather forecasts were reason for the organization of the Four Days Marches to cancel day one of the walking event. This means that this edition will consist of three days instead of four: from Wednesday 20 July to Friday 22 July. Mars leader Henny Sackers calls the decision “historic”.
‘Situation worse than in 2006’
The weather conditions on Tuesday, according to Sackers, are “even worse than we experienced in 2006”. During that edition of the Four Days Marches, with temperatures above 30 degrees, two hikers died.
According to the march leader, it is “not responsible” to go for a walk on Tuesday because of the heat. The alternatives on the table, such as shortening the distances or starting earlier on Tuesday, were “not sufficient”. The decision follows consultation between the board, the medical service, an exercise physiologist, a sports psychologist and the Red Cross.
After two years of no Four Days Marches due to the corona measures, “everyone was really looking forward to it,” says Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls at the press conference. He said he understood the disappointment, but supported the decision. The Four Days Marches will start on Wednesday morning at 4 a.m. with more than 42,000 participants.
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The expected heat is not only a risk for hikers. That is why RIVM has announced the Heat Plan for the entire country. RIVM is particularly concerned about the elderly. “Because they are less able to control their body temperature and feel less thirsty.” Homeless people, the chronically ill, overweight people and young children are also risk groups. The heat can cause the vulnerable to have headaches, feel tired, or have trouble concentrating. More serious health problems can also occur, such as dehydration and heat stroke.
‘Take umbrella in the car’
Rijkswaterstaat will also put the so-called heat protocol into effect from 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning. This means that a recovery vehicle is immediately sent to an accident or a broken down car. “This prevents people from standing on the hot asphalt in the heat for longer than necessary,” says Rijkswaterstaat.
The organization advises motorists to take “enough bottles of (cold) water” with them. “Even if you only go on the road for a short distance. The asphalt temperature can rise above 50 degrees on tropical days. If you unexpectedly end up at the side of the road with bad luck, you can quickly get very hot.”
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Rijkswaterstaat also urges motorists to bring an umbrella. “That may sound crazy when it’s 30 degrees outside and clear, but an umbrella can come in handy even then. There is little shade along the road. If you have bad luck at the side of the road in tropical temperatures, an umbrella offers good protection against the sun.”
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A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of July 18, 2022
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