Highest Heat Alert in Effect until Thursday

The National Chief Medical Officer of Hungary has issued a third-degree heat alert for the entire country based on the forecast by meteorological service HungaroMet. The heat alert is in effect from midnight on Tuesday, until midnight on Thursday, June 26, announced the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (NCPHP) and the National Directorate General for Disaster Management (OKF).

The authorities warned that the prolonged extreme heat in the coming days could cause physical and mental stress for everyone. It is particularly important to take care of ourselves and our environment, especially the elderly, young children, and pets, they added.

They drew attention to the importance of fluid replacement, emphasizing that

the body loses water and minerals at an increased rate, hence in hot weather, “you should drink even if you are not thirsty.”

Tap water is the best choice, but sugar-free fruit or vegetable juices and lukewarm tea are also recommended, they emphasized.

They pointed out that it is worth avoiding fatty, spicy foods and choosing light dishes made from seasonal ingredients instead. Food spoils more quickly in hot weather, therefore pay attention to proper refrigeration and storage, they noted.

It is also recommended avoiding the scorching sun and strenuous physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“If you do have to be outdoors, wear light, loose-fitting clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, and use high-factor sunscreen and sunscreen lip balm,” they stressed. It is also important to stay in the shade, and if possible, spend at least two to three hours a day in an air-conditioned room.

The OKF also pointed out that in such heat, no one should be left in a car parked in partial shade or with the windows rolled down, as the temperature inside the car can become life-threatening within minutes. “If you see a child or animal left in a vehicle, call the emergency number 112 immediately,” they emphasized.

An open fire prohibition is in effect in eight counties, where it is banned to light fires in forests and within 200 meters of them, even in designated fire pits.

The OKF also warned that in extreme heat, air pockets can form in chimneys, and carbon monoxide can be produced where open-flame water heaters are in use.

The Hungarian state railway company announced on its website on Monday that in view of the high temperatures, the MÁV Group will provide free water to passengers at busy railway stations, HÉV stations, and bus stations from Tuesday.

Bottled water is planned to be distributed daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. until Thursday at the platforms of Budapest’s main railway stations, at larger rural railway stations at the passenger center and customer service desks, at ticket offices, at the Volán bus stations in Népliget and Kelenföld in Budapest, as well as at bus stations with higher traffic in county seats, and at the four main HÉV terminals.

Water will be provided while supplies last.

Water will be distributed at the following train stations:

• In Budapest: at the platforms of the Déli, Keleti, and Nyugati stations, as well as Rákospalota–Újpest (during track closures at Rákosrendező).
• In the countryside: at the customer service desks at the stations in Debrecen, Győr, Miskolc, Nyíregyháza, Szeged, Pécs, Székesfehérvár, and Szolnok. At the station ticket office in Békéscsaba, Celldömölk, Fonyód, Kecskemét, Nagykanizsa, Siófok, Tapolca, and Veszprém.

At bus stations:

• In Budapest: at the Kelenföld and Népliget stations.
• In the countryside: in Debrecen, Eger, Győr, Kaposvár, Kecskemét, Miskolc, Nyíregyháza, Pécs, Salgótarján, Szeged, Székesfehérvár, Szekszárd, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabánya, Veszprém, and Zalaegerszeg.

At HÉV stations:

• At Batthyány Square, Örs vezér Square, Közvágóhíd, and Boráros Square.

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Balogh Zoltán