Dancing and singing at a festival while the National Heat Plan applies? This is no problem at all for the residents of the Liduina Care Center in Boxtel. The Dommel Festival took place there for the first time on Thursday.
“You can always wake me up for parties,” says Tiny Schalckx (88). Wouldn’t it be better for older people to stay indoors in this weather? “I’m not an old person, remember,” she says with a big laugh. “I can handle it. Stay in the shade a bit, drink a lot and then you’ll be fine,” she says matter-of-factly.
Enjoy in the shade
Tiny is enjoying the festival in the shade with a bitter lemon. People chat with each other, dance and listen to a singer who sings an appropriate song: ‘When the sun shines’. A party she certainly didn’t want to miss, despite the tropical temperature.
The National Heat Plan applies throughout the Netherlands from Thursday. This is intended to pay extra attention to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and children. The temperatures don’t lie: in Brabant it can reach 35 degrees.
Advice for vulnerable groups
The advice includes having enough to drink within reach, keeping the house cool and only taking vulnerable people outside early in the morning or later in the evening.
According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), people over the age of 75 are the largest vulnerable group. They are less able to control their body temperature and are less likely to feel thirsty, reports the RIVM.
‘We can always adapt’
For the organization of the Dommelfestival, the weather was no reason to cancel the event. “We thought: bingo,” says location manager Jet Sporken. “We want people to have a festive day. We can always adapt during warm weather.”
And that has happened: extra shaded areas, enough to drink, sunscreen, first aiders and volunteers who pay close attention. “We provide care to vulnerable people. We are well trained in this. We make something beautiful out of it with extra measures,” says the location manager.
Take time to rest
Festival goer Enola Sikora enjoys a non-alcoholic cocktail. She also didn’t want to miss the fun. She says she is not bothered by the heat. “Take some rest on time and drink a lot,” is her tip.