Publication date 23-06-2019 | 15:48

It is hot today. Moreover, it will stay warm in the coming days. For many people, that means enjoying the beach or terrace. The heat can lead to health risks for groups of vulnerable people. That is why RIVM has implemented the heat plan for the central, southern and eastern parts of the Netherlands on 23 June 2019. The UV index is also high. This can cause the skin to burn quickly. Extra attention can limit health problems caused by warm weather.

The heat plan applies to the provinces of Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, Utrecht, Flevoland, Noord-Brabant and Limburg. According to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), temperatures can exceed 28 degrees in some places. From tomorrow onwards, temperatures will even be above 30 degrees. Especially in the middle, south and east of the country, it will get warm. In the southeast, the warm weather seems to persist throughout the week; in the coastal provinces, it seems to take less time. The nights will also stay warm; it does not get much colder than 20 degrees Celsius. There is little wind, and the humidity is high so that it can feel oppressive.

Extra attention

The heat plan is, in fact, a warning of heat and the risks it can entail, and a call to pay extra attention to each other. Especially for groups of vulnerable people, such as the elderly, a baby, the chronically ill, people who are overweight, people in nursing homes and people who are socially isolated, the heat entails health risks. These people need to be alert to dehydration and overheating. Babies and very young children also need extra attention to stay cool and drink enough.

Measures against the 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 indoors cool by the timely use of curtains, blinds, fan or air conditioning
  • Pay special attention to people around you who need care.

About the Heat Plan

KNMI and RIVM decide together whether to activate the heat plan. The risk of prolonged warm weather, with maximum temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius, plays an important role in this. Also, the expected nighttime temperature and humidity are factors that are taken into account.

High UV index

The power of the sun's ultraviolet (UV ultraviolet) radiation is probably also high: between 7 and 8. This means that the skin can burn within 15 minutes. So protect yourself from the sun. RIVM continuously measures the sun's power. You can find the current UV index on the website.

Tips, advice or questions

For tips, advice or questions about your health, please contact your regional Municipal Public Health Service (GGD). The Red Cross also provides advice via the website and social media as long as the heat lasts.