A third-degree heat alert is issued when the daily average temperature reaches or exceeds 27 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days.

The National Public Health Center and the National Directorate General for Disaster Management request people to pay increased attention to fluid intake during the hot weather, and also to seek shade between 11 am and 3 pm if possible.

Those working outdoors or attending outdoor events should protect their skin from sunburn with loose and breathable clothing and sunscreen.

Intense physical activities performed outdoors, such as work or prolonged sports activities, can lead to heatstroke. High body temperature (above 40.5ºC) can damage cells and the thermoregulatory center. In the absence of proper treatment, it can even be life-threatening.

This phenomenon is typically observed in young adults who continue exercising despite feeling unwell.

Running or cycling in hot weather is only recommended in the morning or evening hours. If someone still decides to go for a bike tour on the weekend, they should wear a hat or cap, stop at public water fountains, cool their wrists and neck, and moisten their shirt.

Drivers are also advised to exercise caution as they can be adversely affected by the extreme heat.

Those spending their holidays by the water should avoid sunbathing during the midday hours, cool down before entering the water, and never jump into the water with an overheated body.

In the hot weather, the temperature inside a parked car can reach up to 70 degrees Celsius in a single day, so children and pets should not be left in the car.

If someone sees a child or a pet left in a car, they should immediately call the emergency hotline at 112 so that firefighters can rescue those in distress.

With the increasing heat, more and larger outdoor fires are starting. Firefighters have already extinguished over four thousand outdoor fires this year, resulting in ten injuries and burned areas equivalent to 3100 football fields.

Eight counties have imposed a ban on open fires, which means that it is prohibited to start fires in forests and within a two-hundred-meter radius around them.

The areas affected by the fire ban are marked on a map on the website of the disaster management authority. In one's own garden, everyone can still use a cauldron or grill, but it is important not to leave the fire unattended even for a moment.

Source: National Public Health Center