A woman with previous pathologies has been in the Los Arcos ICU since June 15
The intense heat wave that hit the Region of Murcia last week has left two affected by heat stroke, according to information provided by the Ministry of Health. This is a 60-year-old woman with previous pathologies who has been in the Los Arcos Hospital ICU since June 15, and a 71-year-old man who was treated at the Reina Sofía Emergency Department on the 18th, without required income.
Wednesday 15 was a day of intense heat, with almost 39.8 degrees in Jumilla, 38 in Cieza and 37.9 in Murcia, according to the records of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). In San Javier a maximum of 30.5 and a minimum of 21.2 were reached. But the episode of heat was even more intense on Saturday 18, with 39.6 degrees in Alhama de Murcia, 39.3 in Totana, 39 in Molina de Segura and 38.6 in Murcia.
The Ministry activated precisely last week the Plan of preventive actions against the effects of excess temperatures on health in the Region of Murcia. Every year, excessive exposure to heat claims lives. Specifically, last summer there was a death from heat stroke in the community. Since 2004, the number of deaths from this cause has risen to 23, of which 22 were men. The largest number of deaths is concentrated in the 25 to 44-year-old age group.
Since 2004, 23 people have died in the Community due to hyperthermia; the last one last summer
Most at work
Ten of these 23 fatal heat strokes occurred in the workplace. Working without adequate prevention thus becomes the first cause of mortality due to hyperthermia. Three other cases correspond to leisure activities, and three of the deceased had consumed toxic substances.
The latest report from the Ministry of Health also reveals that heat waves are becoming more common. In 2021, values above the alert thresholds (34 maximum and 23 minimum) were recorded for 72 days, compared to 51 in 2020. Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for the Aemet, recalls that last week we lived “the days warmest for these dates since at least 1950. This after Spain suffered in August last year “the most intense heat wave since there are records.” Del Campo also remembers New Year’s Eve 2021, with summer temperatures in Galicia or Asturias.
Risk of increased mortality
Temperatures will give a break from today in the Region of Murcia, with maximums that will not exceed 33 degrees in the capital, according to the Aemet forecast. But this is only a mirage of what could happen during the three months of dog days ahead, until September 21. The summer that has just begun will be dry and hot, which consequently will bring a greater risk of fires and an increase in mortality and morbidity for those people who have certain diseases, such as obesity.
Health reminds that physical exercise must be avoided in the middle of the day, hydrated and especially watch over vulnerable people.
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