When several hot days occur in a row and the nights barely cool down, everyday life becomes exhausting for many people. Elderly people, chronically ill individuals, people with disabilities, and anyone living alone may need support, even if they are otherwise very independent.
For relatives, neighbors, and housing communities, a short, concrete check is often enough. Do not patronize, do not dramatize, but help practically: place water where it is visible, avoid trips during the midday heat, check shading, and when in doubt, it is better to ask once more.
Why the short heat check makes sense
The current heatwave has brought the highest warning level to parts of Austria. According to ORF and GeoSphere Austria, very high temperatures and strong heat stress were or are a topic in several regions over the weekend. Specialist agencies have long pointed out that heat is not only unpleasant but also puts a strain on the circulatory system, sleep, fluid balance, and concentration.
Elderly people sometimes drink too little, feel thirst less clearly, or have medications that must be stored and taken with extra care on hot days. Those who live alone also do not always notice immediately when the apartment overheats or their circulation weakens.
The 10-minute check in the morning
- Call or ring the doorbell briefly:Do not just ask if "everything is okay," but be specific: Is it very hot in the apartment? Have they already had something to drink? Are there any trips out of the house today?
- Make drinks visible:Place water, unsweetened tea, or diluted juices within easy reach. Many people drink more if the glass is already ready.
- Prepare the apartment:Ventilate early, then close windows, pull curtains or shutters, and keep direct sun out.
- Postpone errands:Do shopping, pharmacy visits, post office trips, or cemetery visits as early as possible or take them over.
- Offer light food:Fruit, yogurt, soup, salad, or cold dishes are often more pleasant than heavy cooking in the midday heat.
- Check medications:Do not change them on your own, but check if they are stored in a cool, dry place and if there are any unanswered questions regarding the heat.
What helps most at midday
At midday, the main goal is to reduce strain. No long trips, no heavy shopping, no gardening, and preferably no appointments in direct sunlight. A fan can be pleasant, but it should not tempt you to heat up the apartment during the day. A combination of shade, quiet activities, regular drinking, and breaks is better.
A small agreement is also practical: Who will check in again today? Who will call in the afternoon? Who will bring something from the supermarket? Especially in multi-party buildings, this can often be solved easily.
Take warning signs seriously
In heat, weakness, dizziness, unusual fatigue, headaches, confusion, nausea, muscle cramps, or very hot skin can be warning signs. In such cases, do not wait for it to "get better on its own." Move the affected person to the shade or a cooler room, offer them something to drink if they are awake and responsive, and seek medical help if their condition deteriorates significantly.
For personal heat-related questions, there is a free heat hotline in Austria at 0800 880 800. In acute emergencies, the emergency number 144 applies as always.
Evening: Prepare the apartment and the next day
- When it gets cooler outside, cross-ventilate and bring the warm air out of the apartment.
- Prepare drinks for the next morning.
- Keep light clothing, medications, and important phone numbers within reach.
- Plan or delegate the next shopping or pharmacy trip early.
- On tropical nights, check the sleeping area, fan, and bedding.
The most important point is regularity. A short morning and evening contact helps more than a long visit in the middle of the hottest time of the day. And it also gives relatives peace of mind: You know that someone has been seen, has drunk something, and the apartment is not completely overheated.
Caution
- Planning household chores in the heat: What makes sense in the morning, at noon, and in the evening
- Drinking properly in the heat: 7 simple summer drinks without the sugar trap
- Storing medication correctly in the heat: Home medicine cabinet and travel first-aid kit in summer
- Cleverly survive hot days without air conditioning
- Surviving tropical nights: Cooling the bedroom without an electricity trap
Sources and further information
- ORF.at: Highest heat warning level on the weekend
- Ministry of Social Affairs: Heat hotline
- gesundheit.gv.at: Healthy in the heat
- gesundheit.gv.at: Dealing with heat correctly
- Austrian Red Cross: Tips for heatwaves
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
