Heat warning in Kleve: How to protect yourself from extreme heat!

Heat warning in Kleve: How to protect yourself from extreme heat!

More and more people in Germany have to deal with the stressful effects of heat waves. It is therefore essential for our city of Cologne to draw attention to the dangers posed by high temperatures. The Heat Action Day, which took place on June 4, 2023, raised awareness of this issue and launched many initiatives to protect against heat. The city of Kleve has already developed an effective concept that is used at temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius: a heat warning in the form of a sticker that makes it visible when temperatures rise to an unhealthy level. In these cases, the sticky circle shows “Attention, heat!” indicates that particular caution is required. This important information, which was developed as part of the ExTrass project of the Johanniter Academy NRW and the University of Potsdam, is specifically intended for older people, people in need of care and children who are particularly susceptible to heat-related problems. The city of Kleve offers the heat alarms free of charge, so those interested can contact Umwelt@kleve.de directly or call 02821/ 84390.

There is also an interactive “Cool Places” map in Kleve that helps citizens find cooler public spaces. This map can be accessed on the official website of the city of Kleve, and there is even a QR code available at the entrance to administrative facilities. Everyone can help by adding their own cool places to the map to bring real benefit to the community. The aim of this commitment is to improve general awareness of health protection during the hot months.

Heat action plans go hand in hand

At the national level, the federal and state governments are working on measures to ensure better preparation for heat waves in communities. This includes the development of heat action plans that offer specific recommendations for action based on local conditions. These measures also include urban design strategies, more urban greenery and special concepts for health and care facilities. The Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes that effective implementation of the plans is crucial for protecting the population and appeals to municipalities to find suitable solutions that meet local needs. Collaboration and the exchange of information play a central role.

It also makes sense for many employees and citizens to find out about the options for cooling down. In Berlin alone, there are various facilities available to offer people a shady and cool place to retreat during heat waves. This would be the Neukölln community center on Werbellinstr. 42 is open from Monday to Friday during normal office hours, while many other places such as the Neukölln tea and warming room or the Philipp Melanchthon Church offer similar services. These measures are also part of the larger plan to protect populations in rural and urban areas and help them better cope with the summer heat. You could read an overview of the cool rooms in Berlin, for example here.

Especially at a time when heat waves and extreme weather events are increasing, it is important to act together. Together we can further develop and improve the measures so that our community remains well protected in the future.