Por Redaccion 
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Andalusian Government, through the General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation, emphasizes the importance of protecting oneself from the sun and heat, avoiding going out in the central hours of the day, staying cool and hydrated, and eating properly to prevent the health effects of heat with the arrival of a new heatwave in the coming days as announced by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). This heatwave will keep the Sevillian Countryside, Cordoban Countryside, Sierra and Valle de los Pedroches, Genil Basin, Guadalquivir Valley in Jaén, Sierra Morena, the County of Huelva, Cazorla and Segura on orange alert, equivalent to level 2 or medium risk and level 1 or low risk, respectively, for health effects.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that these heatwaves affect the entire population, regardless of age and health status. However, there are individuals who are more vulnerable, such as children under four years old, especially those under six months, the elderly, chronic patients, workers exposed to the sun, and individuals in unfavorable socioeconomic conditions.
Furthermore, these heatwaves are becoming more precocious and intense. Since the activation of the Andalusian Coordination Protocol against the effects of Excessive Temperatures on Health on May 16, there have been nine cases of heatstroke (one of them fatal last Saturday in Córdoba) in Andalusia. This number exceeds those recorded in the last five years for the same dates. Thus, in 2020, 2023, and 2024, six cases were counted; in 2021, one, and in 2022, four.
Health and Consumer Affairs recommend avoiding, as much as possible, direct sun exposure in the central hours of the day and if you have to go out, do so with maximum protection; wear light clothing, light colors, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen; maintain a good level of hydration and consume fruits and vegetables.
The Andalusian Coordination Protocol against the Effects of Excessive Temperatures on Health 2025 will remain active until September 30, with the participation of the Ministries of Health and Consumer Affairs; Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality; Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification; Educational Development and Vocational Training; Tourism and External Andalusia; Culture and Sports, and Employment, Business, and Self-Employment.
This protocol aims to reduce the impact on health associated with the increase in summer temperatures and possible heatwaves, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups. The strategy of the protocol is based on predicting heatwaves based on information provided by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and establishing alert levels according to the degree of risk due to excessive temperature; identifying the most vulnerable population groups to the effects of heat, and coordinating with various competent public and private administrations and entities to identify, monitor, and assist at-risk groups, and to implement corresponding preventive measures in each sector.
The target population includes individuals over 65 years of age, chronic patients, individuals taking medication that may affect the body’s adaptation to heat – such as diuretics, antihypertensives, antidepressants, neuroleptics, anticholinergics, and tranquilizers -, children under four years old and infants, individuals with memory disorders, difficulties in adapting to heat, and who consume alcohol and drugs.
Other individuals who may be particularly affected by heat are those living alone, homeless, with unfavorable economic conditions, with excessive heat exposure due to staying in educational centers, for work-related reasons, such as manual work outdoors, with high exposure to hot environments, or engaging in high-intensity physical sports or leisure activities, especially between 2 pm and 7 pm.
The Salud Responde service, managed by the 061 Emergency Health Center of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), carries out through the Intelligent Voice Response (IVR) system the monitoring of vulnerable patients within the Andalusian Coordination Protocol against the effects of excessive temperatures on health for this year 2025. Last year, 146,861 follow-up calls were made, a 15.8% increase compared to the previous year’s campaign (126,773 calls), thanks to the incorporation of this technology in the development of the Heatwave campaign.
Health and Consumer Affairs insist that protecting oneself from heat and protecting individuals in the environment is everyone’s responsibility. The ministry has a specific website with all the recommendations: