Skopje, 17 June 2024 (MIA) – Sudden weather changes and rising temperatures could prove risky for the citizens. The Skopje emergency center says that the number of emergency calls has been rising due to the heatwave as well as the number of heat-related fainting in public places regardless of one’s age. Citizens can experience dizziness, varying blood pressure, anxiety, etc. People are recommended to go outside only in the morning or late in the afternoon, wear light clothes, drink a lot of fluids and eat light meals.

“A lot of people have fainted outside regardless of their age. They should abide by the recommendations urging them to wear light clothes, the people with chronic illnesses to take their therapy, not to go outside after 11 am, etc,” stated Dragan Panov, doctor at the Skopje emergency center. 

Not only older, but also younger people seek assistance and advice. There has been an example of some young people calling the emergency after taking the shower and then falling asleep with the air conditioning on. One of the recommendations is people to avoid doing this – the air conditioning should not be directed directly to people. 

Lilija Cholakova Dervishova, president of the association of private doctors, says the hot weather is a challenge due to the sudden changes.

“People have been reporting dizziness, varying blood pressure,” she says adding that some people who are intolerant to high temperatures have been also feeling anxiety. 

Doctors recommend people to eat lightly, to go for walks in the morning or late in the afternoon, to avoid places with major temperature difference indoors compared to outdoors, because it is considered a shock to the system. People should drink a lot of fluids and avoid drinking alcohol. Cold beverages is also not recommended. 

Children to be taken outside early in the morning and late in the afternoon, sun protection to be used; lots of fluids

Pediatric doctors advise children not to be taken outside during the peak of the day, only to be taken for walks early in the day and late in the afternoon. 

Doctor Valentina Cvejkoska Cholakovska, medical doctor of the Skopje Children’s Clinic, in a statement to MIA said that newborns are prone to dehydrate easily.

“We, the pediatrics, recommend caution when going outside with children. Due to rising temperatures, children should be taken outside early in the morning or later in the afternoon, should wear caps and have sun protection applied on them, should drink a lot of fluids and eat only light meals. Hygiene also requires special attention, both personal and that of food items and produce,” stated the director. 

At the moment, she said, 12 children, mainly newborns and pre-school children, are hospitalized at the children’s clinic with enterocolitis. Three children with the whooping cough are also treated at the hospital, according to her. 

Doctor Mirjana Popovska, pediatric doctor at the clinic for children with respiratory diseases, told MIA that the hospital is out of appointments for allergy tests. 

She said children, mainly newborns, have been admitted to the hospital with whooping cough. Pneumonia and bronchitis are the most common infections.

“We have nearly 100 outpatient checkups in a 24-hour period. At the moment, 40 children are hospitalized at the clinic,” stated Popovska.

The national weather service said temperature will rise up to 38C on Tuesday with temps reaching 39C on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the southeastern part of the country. 

Photo: MIA archive