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Several Spanish provinces placed on alert for freezing temperatures
Cities in Andalucia and Valencia are among those escalated to risk levels 2 and 3
After a winter of unusually mild temperatures so far which saw thousands of people flock to beaches across Spain to celebrate Christmas day, the cold snap has finally arrived this week, driving the mercury to sub-zero figures in many areas.
So drastic is the temperature drop that the Ministry of Health has issued cold alerts in several provinces.
Sevilla has now been placed at level 3, which constitutes a significant risk, while Huelva, Córdoba, Valencia, Zaragoza and Girona are at a lower level, level 2, medium risk. As a result, community groups and town councils have been asked to extend information and warnings to health professionals and vulnerable groups.
Although the death toll from annual heatwaves is staggering, daily mortality in the winter months is actually much higher, and the true impact of a cold spell like this one can be seen up to 14 days later due, in part, to infectious respiratory diseases.
To combat this, each year the Spanish Ministry of Health activates a National Plan, which is specifically targeted at vulnerable groups such as low-income families who may not be able to afford heating, and the elderly.
Recommendations to protect yourself against the cold
- If you must go outside, try to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth.
- Watch out for ice on the roads and wear non-slip footwear if possible: a high percentage of cold-related injuries reported each winter are due to slips and falls.
- It’s better to wear several thin layers of clothing as this offers better protection than a single thick layer, by forming insulating air chambers in between.
- If you are using a gas appliance or fireplace to heat your home, ensure the house is properly ventilated to prevent the build-up of CO2. It’s recommended to open a door or window at least twice a day, for 15 minutes each time, to allow new air to circulate.
- Turn off electric and gas stoves at night.
- Drink liquids, even if you are not thirsty, especially water and hot drinks and avoid alcohol consumption, as it reduces the feeling of cold.
- Stay well informed about weather forecasts before leaving home.
- Finally, the Ministry of Health recommends vaccination against influenza in people over 65 years of age and for those who suffer from a chronic disease (cardiopulmonary, metabolic and immunosuppressed).
Join our Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates
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