The city of Rio de Janeiro faces a sequence of days with high temperatures at the end of December, as does much of Brazil, which remains under the influence of a heat wave. According to Climatempo, thermometers reached 37 °C this Sunday (28). The Rio Alert System predicts a maximum of up to 40 °C in different regions of the city.
According to the SMS (Municipal Health Secretariat), between the 23rd and 27th of December, the period in which the municipal urgency and emergency network recorded 2,793 visits possibly related to heat. Among the most common symptoms are dizziness, weakness and fainting. During the same period, an increase in cases of sunburn compared to days classified as heat level 1.
Operation “Hydration Fleet”
Faced with the high temperatures, the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro began, this Sunday (28), a “Hydration Fleet” operation in high-traffic areas. The action provides for the distribution of 10 thousand liters of drinking water on beaches in the South Zone — Leme, Copacabana, Arpoador and Ipanema — in addition to Parque Madureira, in the north of the capital.
The initiative is coordinated by Cedae (State Water and Sewage Company) and the State Department of Health. The action has a kombi and 14 bicycles positioned at lifeguard stations. The points also offer drinking fountains for animals. The water distributed comes from the Guandu Water Treatment Station and undergoes continuous quality monitoring.
From this Monday (29), Cedae also offers points of hydration at Central do Brasil and Bangu train stationsCampo Grande and Madureira. The action includes homeless people and public transport passengers.
As 27 state UPAs (Emergency Care Units) reinforced heat-related carewith hydration points installed in external areas and the adoption of specific protocols for patients with symptoms associated with high temperatures.
The government of RJ reported that Cemaden (Fire Department and the State Center for Monitoring and Alerting of Natural Disasters) continues to monitor the weather conditions and issuing alerts over intense heat and low air humidity.
