The TT marathon took a big line this week, but several other (sports) events in Drenthe will continue. The Red Cross calls on visitors to be careful and use the ‘common sense’.
This weekend the Red Cross Drenthe is at ten events in Drenthe. “We are really full of events. We received extra requests, but there is no more room for that,” says Veerle Neijboer of the Red Cross Northern Netherlands. For example, the Red Cross is present at Wielerronde de Acht van Noordenveld, at the Stoneeltoednooi at football club EHS’85 in Emmen and at the anniversary match of baseball and softball club De Blue Devils in Meppel.
The Red Cross calls on to use common sense when visiting festivals, sporting events and other events. According to the organization, people overestimate their own capacities and underestimate the risks of effort in the sun. “If it is so hot, you should not make an effort too fanatic. If you have not trained and you want to participate in a running match, that is not wise.”
“Listen carefully to your body. If you notice that it gets heavier, take it easy and look for the shade.” In addition, the Red Cross recommends to wear suitable, light clothing and to rub you well and to be extra careful with the use of alcohol and drugs.
Although paying attention to everyone, Neijboer emphasizes that vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children should be extra careful. “The elderly and children are more at risk. A sun stroke is the beginning, and that can go into heat exhaustion and even a heat stroke. That is very harmful to your body. But it can happen to anyone, you just have to be careful with it.”
Heateletch is ‘from bad to worse’, Neijboer explains. “It starts with sweating, seeing red or seeing pale, dizziness and headache.” It is remarkable that opposite symptoms of signs of severe overheating can be. “If the sweating stops, it is precisely a sign that things are not going well. The victim can also say they are cold while he is overheated.” In such cases, the volunteers transfer a victim to emergency services.
These periods mean top pressure for the Red Cross, Neijboer explains. “We are really full of events this weekend and only use more than forty care providers in Drenthe.” They receive an extra preparation by going through all possible symptoms of heat injury, she explains. “That does not happen half the year, so the instructions will then be discussed again.”
To absorb victims of the heat as well as possible, extra cooling materials are delivered at events. “We also provide water and ice cubes. If someone really gets a heat stroke, then we will cool with towels soaked in ice cubes. Then you really don’t want too few towels with you.”
To prevent it from getting so out of hand, Neijboer calls on to take gas back mainly at such tropical temperatures. “Taking it easy is very important.”