In recent decades, Slovenia has also experienced unfavorable or even dangerous weather conditions, which also affect people's health. Severe and prolonged heat in the summer months causes heat stress.
The heat load is more pronounced in cities due to the artificially modified environment (less vegetation and greater surface coverage, e.g. with buildings and asphalt) and additional heat production.
Heat waves affect people's well-being and health. During the period of heat waves, we often see higher mortality than expected. Thus, in 2015, during the period of heat waves in Slovenia, there were 7% more deaths, mostly in the part of Slovenia with the preferred continental climate, where the two largest cities are also located. Most deaths due to heat waves were among the elderly and among people with chronic cardiovascular diseases. In cities, the situation is further aggravated by air polluted by particulate matter (PM) and ozone.
Local communities can help residents mitigate heat waves in a number of ways:
by arranging parks, by installing drinking fountains, by building bicycle and pedestrian paths that are separated from traffic roads and in shaded areas, with shaded parking lots, by arranging access to water surfaces and by monitoring the quality of surface water in places where there is no official control, however, a large number of people traditionally bathe there to determine whether the water is of suitable quality for bathing or is it safe to swim there.
More frequent, longer and more intense heat waves are associated with climate change. We can all contribute to mitigating climate change, e.g. with active transport: walking and cycling. This brings many health benefits: in addition to mitigating - "stopping" climate change, cleaner air, less noise and more movement. More movement has been proven to prevent many chronic non-communicable diseases: respiratory, cardiovascular and obesity.
More information at: http://www.nijz.si/sl/napotki-prebivalcem-za-ravanje-v-vrocini
Prepared by: Ana Hojs, Ph.D. honey spec. of public health, Simona Perčič, dr. med., spec. of public health.
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