August is fast approaching and we already had a small taste of the brutal temperatures which can descend on the Maltese islands in the height of summer.

On Saturday, temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius, and luckily the humidity index was rather low. A fresh breeze off the sea also helped matters, as does the fact that we are an island. But come August, the sweltering temperatures coupled with the mugginess of very high humidity can make things a lot worse.

Excessive heat is very dangerous, particularly to the elderly, babies and young children and pets. The most important thing is to keep hydrated. One might not think that they need to constantly drink, but in these temperatures, it is the wise thing to do. What might be your normal intake in June might not suffice to combat the heat and humidity next month.

Some people might read this and think that it’s a load of waffle, but there are some simple tips which the World Health Organisation encourages people to utilise, particularly those who are at risk and those who care for people who are elderly or very young. These include consumption of cool water, staying indoors during peak hours, keeping the skin moist, putting the shutters down over windows and doors, taking it easy if you can and most importantly, being conscious of the fact that your body is working in conditions that are bordering on the extreme.

The issue of heat exhaustion and dehydration should not really be compared to sun stroke and sunburn. That is common sense, the Maltese stay out of the sun as much as possible at the height of summer, but that does not mean that you are not exposing yourself to the heat.

With babies it is perhaps easy, everyone makes sure that kiddies of a very young age are kept well fed and watered and as cool as possible, it is human nature. But we should also be very conscious of older people and especially those who live alone. People who have elderly relatives should make double and triple sure that they have all they need and that they need to make sure that they keep as cool as possible given the circumstances. Again, if anyone thinks this is waffle, just take a look at what happens to older people in Spain and Italy at this time of the year. Many dehydrate and die. Checking on these people saves lives and making sure that you get through their guise of ‘independence’ is of paramount important.

Of course, there are people who cannot sit down and take things easy at the height of the day as work dictates otherwise. But again, wear light clothing, keep water with you at all times. Make sure that you have eaten a healthy light meal and try to avoid sitting in the sun as much as possible.

Last but not least, a word about pets. Even the best intentions can result in death. People might take their dogs for a swim and on the way home; you might leave a dog in the car while you hop out for two minutes to buy them some fresh, cold water.

You go back to the car, and your dog is dead or collapsed. It is Sunday, care is not available. What was a treat for the dog ended in heartache all round. Do not leave pets in cars. Do not leave children in cars and do not leave older people in cars. You might have a hand in killing them if you do.