In Europe, heat-related deaths have increased by a third over the past 20 years.
Greece has set up a heat-related health warning system called HeatAlarm. Scientists who launched it last year said: “The eastern Mediterranean is experiencing an increase in the occurrence of intense and prolonged heat waves. Future climate projections indicate that such extreme conditions will become the norm in eastern Mediterranean countries throughout the 21st century.”
Elderly people are more susceptible to infection
Christos Giannaros, one of the scientists leading the project, said older people retain more heat in their bodies than younger people, making them more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Ginny Lunn, owner of hiking tour company Walking Woman, said travel patterns in Europe were changing dramatically.
“Currently the busiest times are April, before it gets too hot in places like Greece and southern Spain, then the end of September, October and November. I’m planning on going to southern Spain in December and still seeing gorgeous blue skies.”
“Go north for summer. Norway is becoming very popular. And Scotland. These are now the biggest hiking destinations in summer. The heat comes early. You’ll need to rethink your holiday plans.”
Most of WalkingWomen’s clients are over 50 years old and need to be especially mindful of the dangers that heat poses.
“We advise clients to bring two litres of water, wear a hat and choose shady routes near water if possible. We employ experienced local guides to help them adapt to changing weather conditions,” Lan said.
School Holidays
Couples and retirees whose children are independent can avoid July and August and take their holidays in the spring or fall, but families with school-age children are tied to school holidays.
Their advice is to change destinations – avoiding the hottest parts of southern Europe in midsummer and choosing cooler locations: a survey conducted last year by travel insurer Insure&Go found that 71 percent of Brits think Mediterranean holiday destinations such as Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey will be too hot to visit within the next five years.
