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Cologne fights against summer heat: New heat portal and water mist!
In Cologne's city center, residents provided information about heat protection measures and the health of older people during heat waves.
Cologne fights against summer heat: New heat portal and water mist!
The annoying summer heat has Cologne firmly under control and the city administration is responding with concrete measures to provide residents with relief. The “Cooling Cologne” project was recently presented in the Südstadt district, which uses fine water mist technology to counteract heat warnings in extreme temperatures. Attentive residents in Lindenthal saved an elderly woman from damage to her health when they discovered it, as the Rundschau Online reports.
Last Saturday, the senior citizen sat alone in front of a building for several hours to escape the hot weather in her apartment. After a call for help from her neighbors, emergency services arrived and took the dehydrated woman, who may have been confused, to hospital. Dr. Flavia Nobili, the emergency doctor, took care of the hydration.
Cool places for everyone
In order to effectively counter the rising temperatures in Cologne, the city has launched the “Cologne Heat Portal”. On this interactive platform, citizens can not only list cool places in the city, but also find information on how to cope with the heat. According to the initiators, this will be particularly important for particularly vulnerable groups such as older people, pregnant women and children. The city wants to raise awareness among the population and has had the “Heat Action Plan for Older People” in effect since 2019 in order to minimize health risks, as the Klimaatlas NRW further explains.
With regard to the health effects of heat, experts warn that the health risks caused by climatic changes in Germany will increase in the coming decades. Vulnerable groups in particular are particularly affected here, which shows a great need for effective heat protection, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
Fire department and regular updates
The Cologne fire department has also responded to the overload at high temperatures and is increasing rest periods for emergency services. In addition, additional ambulances are stationed at major events such as concerts so that they can intervene quickly. Free water points have been set up at the Rheinenergiestadion to help people during the heat. Nevertheless, the natural swimming pond in Lentpark had to close temporarily because the load limit had been reached.
Municipal authorities also provide regular updates and tips on how to behave in the heat. The information extends to a hotline that provides free support to relatives and those in need of help when it comes to health concerns. In addition, a brochure entitled “The Heat Etiquette” was published to better prepare and educate the Cologne population for heat waves.
As the heat continues, it is important that we all do our part to protect the health of the community. All Cologne residents who make observations have a good hand and do not hesitate to provide help and use the resources on offer.