The millions of tourists planning to travel to Greece this summer must be aware of the dangers posed by a heatwave that appears to have claimed the lives of several foreign travelers to date.
Greece is grappling with a severe early summer heat wave with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), resulting in dangerous conditions, particularly for outdoor activities like hiking.
Extreme heat can severely impair cognitive functions, affecting decision-making and risk perception. Older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing conditions are particularly vulnerable. The victims in Greece were all in their mid-50s and older.
The government spokesperson warned that worse is expected: “All the scientific evidence confirms that this summer will be exceptionally difficult.”
Traveling to Greece during a heatwave
Experts advise that people should avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day and seek shade whenever possible. They should stay hydrated and wear loose, light-colored clothing. They should also use location-sharing apps and inform someone of their whereabouts.
The key is to drink regularly throughout the day (at least 6-8 mugs), drink plenty of fluids such as water, diluted squash and fruit juice to stay hydrated. If you’re active, or if the weather is particularly hot, you should increase your fluid intake.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. It can affect anyone, including fit and healthy people, exposure to extreme heat can result in illnesses and injuries.
Heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, which is an emergency.
The signs of heatstroke include:
- feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water
- not sweating even while feeling too hot
- a temperature of 40C or above
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- feeling confused
- a fit (seizure)
- loss of consciousness
- not responsive
If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these steps:
- Move them to a cool place.
- Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly.
- Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are OK.
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good, too.
- Stay with them until they’re better. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.
- If they are still feeling unwell after 30 minutes call the emergency services.
Heatwaves and wildfires in Greece
Heatwaves are unusually associated with wildfires, especially when it is windy. The combination of dry, hot weather and wind has led to a “very high forest fire risk” Greek authorities say.
Greece experienced 3,543 wildfires between January 1st and May 1st. This is an increase of 22 percent compared to last year’s 2,907 blazes, according to the Fire Service, which is bracing for a very difficult season.
Almost daily there are active wildfires across Greece, including in populated areas on the mainland and the islands.
Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly. Follow “112 Greece” on X (formerly known as Twitter) for official updates.
You should:
- take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas
- make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished
- not light barbecues
- Causing a forest fire is treated as a criminal offense in Greece even if unintentional.
- If you see a forest fire, call the emergency services on 112.
- Read the Greek Government’s protection guidelines in the event of a forest fire.
- enable the “Emergency Alerts” option to receive the Greek government’s emergency alerts.
- For: iPhones go to Settings > Notification. Enable the “Emergency Alerts” option at the bottom.
- Android 11 and higher go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts.
- Samsung Devices go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications. Enable the “Emergency Alerts” option