Heatstroke victim in hospital as Met office warns most of Spain will hit over 40ºC today
Monday, June 29, 2015 @ 8:08 AM
WEATHER warnings have been reinforced and health services are urging the public to take precautions as the temperature rises across Spain, particularly after a man from Toledo was admitted to intensive care with heatstroke yesterday (Sunday).
The 44-year-old collapsed in the street in Alameda de la Sagra in his home province and was unconscious when he was taken to hospital.
And it was not even the hottest part of the day at the time he passed out – the ambulance was called at 11.20hrs.
Because of Spain being an hour ahead of its geographically-correct time zone, and – like the rest of Europe and many other parts of the world – having put the clocks forward an hour for the spring, the midday or noon sun in fact comes at 14.00hrs.
But UV rays are not the only aspect health authorities are concerned with – the sheer heat as the mercury rockets to a typical 40ºC means dehydration is a risk, and prolonged exposure to high temperatures and bright sunshine without taking measures to cool down or drinking any water can put people in danger of suffering heatstroke.
This is a more serious condition than what is loosely referred to as 'sunstroke' or 'heat exhaustion' where the sufferer feels listless, headachey and nauseous – whilst these are also symptoms of heatstroke, the latter can also come with cold sweats, trembling, disorientation and confusion, and vomiting.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com