Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

Barcelona City Council deactivated its daytime heatwave alert on Thursday, 24 August, as temperatures are not expected to exceed 33°C in the coming days. The alert was activated on 23 August, with temperatures set to climb higher than 33°C in the day. The emergency stage for torrid nights remains in place.

The City Council is maintaining its emergency action plan for torrid nights in place as temperatures over 28 ºC are set to continue over the coming nights. The alert was activated on Tuesday, 22 August.

Municipal services are ready to step up their monitoring of vulnerable families, and the  Barcelona Social Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (CUESB) will be operational and ready to transfer vulnerable people to the shelter offered by the CUESB and other available facilities.

The team will also alert emergency medical services if they detect anyone at risk due to the effects of the heat.

Prevention for vulnerable people

At the same time, telecare services, home help services and social services centres have contacted 6,347 particularly vulnerable people and will continue to check on them. If necessary, specific measures will be taken to prevent people most at risk from going outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.

Extra activities will also be organised at air-conditioned centres such as those for the elderly and for people with disabilities.

A phone service (900 703 030) offering information and handling queries is also available from June to September.

Climate shelters

Barcelona has a network of climate shelters to cope with the high temperatures. There are nearly 200 climate shelters, indoors and outdoors, including libraries, community centres, schools, parks and other municipal sites, all of them accessible and offering water points and seats. Outdoor spaces offer shade, while indoor spaces have air-conditioning.

Check the map of climate shelters here.

Recommendations

Keep temperatures under control at home:

• During the day, close the shutters of windows in direct sunlight.
• Open windows at night to ventilate the home.
• Keep to the coolest rooms.
• Use some sort of cooling system (ventilators, air-conditioning, fans etc.) and aim to spend at least two hours a day in air-conditioned places, such as libraries or cinemas.
• Freshen up regularly by showering or using damp towels.

Avoid direct sunlight outdoors:

• Wear a cap or hat or use some sort of sunshade.
• Wear light clothing (such as cotton), in light colours and not too tight-fitting.
• Try to walk in the shade, use a sunshade at the beach and rest in cool spots in the street, or in closed spaces with air-conditioning.
• Carry water with you and drink it often.
• Wet your face a little and even your clothes too.
• Take care with car journeys in the hottest parts of the day and don’t stay in the car with the windows up.
• Limit physical activity during the hottest times of the day.
• Avoid leaving the house during the hottest times of the day.

Food and drink:

• Drink water and fruit juices.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
• Avoid food which is very hot or high in calories.

Help others:

• If you know elderly or sick people who live alone, try to visit them once a day and make sure they’re following this advice.
• If they are on medication, check with their doctor if it can affect their temperature control or if any adjustments or changes are needed.