On August 2, 2018, the National Heat Plan has been activated for the provinces Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, Utrecht, Overijssel and Drenthe. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a code yellow warning for these provinces. RIVM advises these regions to take extra care of vulnerable people to limit health problems as much as possible.
According to predictions by KNMI, temperatures will rise up to 30 and 35 degrees in aforementioned provinces. Also, in the evening and at night it will be hot and the temperature is not expected to drop below 20 degrees.
Continued warm weather poses a health risk to certain groups of people. Especially elderly people in nursing homes, the chronically ill, people with respiratory problems and overweight people are at risk.
Last week RIVM activated the heat plan for the entire Netherlands, for it was extremely hot all over the country. For the coming days KNMI predicts high temperatures especially in the south and east of the Netherlands. In the other parts of the Netherlands temperatures will be lower.
Measures against sun and heat
- Sufficient drinking
- Thin clothing that offers protection against sunburn
- Use of sunscreen
- Stay in the shade
- Limit physical exertion in the afternoon, avoid strenuous activity
- Keep your house cool by timely use of curtains, blinds, fan or air conditioning.
Tips and advice
For tips, advice or questions about your health, please contact municipal public health services (GGD). The Red Cross also shares advice on their website and in social media as long as the heat persists.