Not only scorching temperatures, but also aimminent invasion of ticks and mosquitoes. The alarm comes from Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima), who warns the population to adopt correct behaviors for their health in view of the heat wave arriving in Italy starting this week: the rapid rise of the mercury columns, after the frequent rains of recent days, it will also bring with it a renewed risk of insect bites.
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«The sudden rise in temperatures throughout Italy comes after days of heavy rains which have caused vegetation to grow and develop at a very rapid pace even in urban areas – explains the president Alessandro Miani – The optimal conditions have thus been created for the proliferation of insects such as ticks, grasshoppers and tiger mosquitoes, which find their natural habitat both in the terminal part of the vegetation, such as the branches of trees and plants that descend downwards, and in uncultivated grass.
Animals that are attracted by the carbon dioxide that we emit with respiration, and that through bites and stings can be vectors of viral or bacterial diseases, even serious ones, such as Encephalitis, Lyme disease, Fever, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (Cchf), Fever Mediterranean buttonosa, Chikungunya, Anaplasmosis etc…».
How to protect yourself from insects
«In this context – he adds – it is therefore necessary to adopt correct behaviors to limit health risks and defend oneself from the invasion of insects: picnics in areas where the grass is uncultivated are to be avoided; outdoors it is advisable to wear light-colored clothing that covers most of the body (trousers, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, stockings) and apply repellent products to the exposed skin parts».
How to defend yourself from the heat: the list of tips
In view of the heat wave arriving in various areas of Italy, the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine also disseminates a guide of practical advice to defend yourself from scorching temperatures and better protect your health:
Avoid exposing yourself to heat and direct sun and leave the house only in the cooler hours;
Ensure adequate air exchange in the home and facilitate natural ventilation;
Keep the rooms cool by shielding the windows exposed to the sun (using shutters, blinds, curtains, etc…);
close the windows during the day and open them during the cooler hours of the day (evening and night);
Take frequent baths and showers with warm water;
Drink at least 3 liters of water during the day, avoid alcohol and prefer foods that contain a lot of water such as fruit and vegetables;
When you leave the house, protect your eyes with sunglasses and prevent burns with sunscreens with a high protective factor;
Avoid sporting activities outdoors during the hottest hours.