Scorching End to June: Heat Wave Hits Serbia From June 27
Batut warns of a heat wave from June 27 to July 1, and emergency services are already logging more call-outs. Here is how to get through the hottest days without a trip to the doctor.
- Batut warns of a heat wave from June 27 to July 1 across most of Serbia.
- Over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday, temperatures will climb to 36 degrees.
- Emergency services already report more call-outs due to the heat, with small children and the elderly most at risk.
- Doctors advise: stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and drink plenty of fluids.
Will next week really be a furnace? It will, at least according to both the RHMZ and Batut. From June 25 we can expect mostly sunny and warm weather, with temperatures between 29 and 35 degrees and no significant rain. But the real blow arrives on June 27.
The Batut Institute of Public Health has announced a heat wave that will run from June 27 to July 1 and cover most of Serbia. Over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday, the mercury will rise to 36 degrees. It is worth knowing that a heat wave is not defined by a single hot day, but as at least five consecutive days above a critical temperature threshold. That is exactly why doctors treat it seriously.
To be clear, this is not the kind of ordinary summer sun you cool off from with a glass of cold lemonade. Emergency services are already recording a rise in call-outs, and as Dr Goran Milosavljevic warns, the greatest risk comes during the hottest hours of the day. The most vulnerable are small children and older residents, whose bodies regulate temperature less easily.
How do you get through the hottest days without a trip to the doctor?
The good news is that most heat-related problems can be prevented with simple habits, tested in everyday use. Here is our practical advice, step by step.
First, stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. That is when the body takes the biggest hit, so if you can, move important outdoor tasks to early morning or evening. A quick walk to the shop at noon can wait.
Second, drink water before you feel thirsty. Thirst is already a sign that your body is short on fluids. Keep a bottle of water with you and sip throughout the day, and go easy on alcohol and too much coffee, which dry you out further.
Third, dress light and pale. Cotton and linen let air through, while light colours reflect the sun rather than soak it up. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are not a fashion accessory but real protection.
Fourth, cool down the space you live in. Lower the blinds during the day, air out the room early in the morning and late at night, and if you have a fan or air conditioning, set it to a moderate level so the gap with the outside temperature is not too big.
Who do we need to watch most closely?
A heat wave hits hardest those who cannot protect themselves. If you have a baby or small child at home, make sure the room is cooled and the child gets fluids regularly. A baby overheats faster than an adult and cannot tell you it is too hot.
Older family members are the other sensitive group. With age, the sense of thirst fades, so they often do not drink enough even when their body needs it. A single phone call to a neighbour or a parent living alone, reminding them to have a glass of water, is sometimes worth more than anything.
Our recommendation is simple. Plan ahead over the next few days, do not wait until you feel unwell to react. The heat will pass, but only if we ride it out sensibly and without needless risk.
And what about you, how are you getting ready for this scorching end to June, and do you have a tried-and-tested trick against the heat to share with us?
