Bologna, heatwaves are coming: the Municipality's plan to protect the elderly

The project to prevent the harmful effects of heat waves implemented by the Municipality of Bologna is getting underway in collaboration with the Territorial Social and Health Conference, the Local Health Authority, Arpae (Regional Agency for Environment and Energy Prevention), Civil protection, Lepida, the AGES Service (Aldebaran Social Emergency Management) and the involvement of the municipal pharmacies AFM and Federfarma Bologna e of the Auser voluntary associations, Italian Red Cross, Public Assistance Croce Italia, Public Assistance City of Bologna and Anteas G. Fanin.

Like every year, around 5 thousand citizens over 75 e in a fragile situation due to health problems, identified by the Bologna Local Health Authority, have received a letter from the Municipality with information relating to the project, the toll-free number to contact in case of need and the tips to implement to protect yourself from days characterized by heat waves.

The Heat Wave Prevention project runs from June 15th to September 15th with the Toll-free telephone line 800 562110 (active from Monday to Friday From 8.30 17 and on Saturdays from 8.30 13) addressed to all citizens, and in particular elderly people in frail conditions, to receive information and advice to cope with periods of heat without health risks.

Through the toll-free number various services may also be activated for the elderly and frail people who need them: fromHouse assistance (protection and monitoring), to the assessment of healthcare needs in collaboration with the COT representatives (Territorial Operations Centres), at organisers' activities created in collaboration with the volunteering, monitoring and companionship, di accompaniment for visits and for the processing of paperwork, home delivery of groceries and medicines (in network with Federfarma Bologna and AFM municipal pharmacies).

From the 15 to the 30 June, in first two weeks from the activation of the Project, they were 162 people contacted the toll-free number and over 1300 frail elderly people contacted by call center operators of Lepida to provide information and monitor their health status.

In the event of persistent heat waves, the Corn Plan is then triggered (Monitoring Elderly in Loneliness) with the activation of volunteers of the associations they contact with telephone calls target the elderly over 75 years of age with high fragility reported by the Bologna Local Health Authority.

The action is part of the broader E-care project: a telemonitoring service I activate everything the year aimed at the support and company of the frail elderly who spend most of their time at home due to clinical, social and motor function problems.

E-Care project info: https://www.comune.bologna.it/servizi-informazioni/accedere-servizio-e-care

"Heat waves often have negative effects on the health of older people, especially those suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, hypertension and diabetes. With the Heat Wave Prevention project, thanks to the synergy between the Municipality of Bologna and other public bodies, the world of volunteering and pharmacies in the Bologna area, we are putting in place a safety network, which allows us to monitor risk situations, but also offer support services for finding medicines and food and promote access for older people to socialization projects at recreational facilities and Neighborhood Houses equipped with air conditioning systems”, underlines Luca Rizzo Nervo, councilor for welfare and health of the Municipality of Bologna.

The advice of the ASL

In anticipation of heat waves, we remind you of the precautions and indications in case of difficulties suggested by the Local Health Authority:

1-drink a lot and often even when you are not thirstyunless the doctor advises otherwise, avoiding carbonated drinks or drinks containing sugar and abstaining, in general, from iced or cold drinks

2-avoid alcohol and caffeine

3- take baths or showers with warm water to lower body temperature

4-use air conditioners by regulating the room temperature with a difference of no more than 6/7 degrees compared to the outside temperature (e.g. outside temperature 32 degrees, inside temperature 25-26 degrees), if use fans to circulate the air, do not point them directly at the body

5-avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day

6-lend pay attention to those who have difficulty orienting themselves in time and space, to non-self-sufficient people, to elderly people who live alone

For more information, see the information sheet on the website of the Municipality of Bologna:
https://www.comune.bologna.it/servizi-informazioni/cosa-fare-ondate-calore