Health risks emerge as temperatures rise in summer
By Nigar Orujova
The hottest part of the summer is coming. June was traditionally mild and warm in Azerbaijan, but the heat is gradually rising and affecting people's health.
Last summer was marked with hot temperature and the weather was mild and abnormally warm in the middle of the winter. Certainly, this is dangerous for all living creatures.
However, Azerbaijan's National Hydrometeorology Department said the heat record was not broken during the summer of 2012, as the summers of 2010 and 2011 were hotter. The hottest summer in the country was recorded in 2000.
Nevertheless, people's problems caused by scorching heat are becoming more common with rising temperature. 11 people have caught sunstrokes in Baku since May.
The number of sunstrokes has increased since June 15. Thus, only two people suffered sunstrokes in the period between May 2 and June 15, according to the Baku City Emergency.
Another risk posed during the summer time is related to water, and mostly to beaches. Officially, the beach season in Azerbaijan starts on July 15 and finishes on September 15. However, 14 cases of drowning have already been reported in Baku and the entire Absheron Peninsula.
The fact that of the 10 drowned people six were children is alarming. In 2012, 17 people were reported drowned during the last summer season, and 10 people drowned in 2011. The rising number of such instances shows that people should be more careful while bathing at sea and children should not stay unattended.
Another danger posed by water is bacteria. Two Caspian beaches, Shikhov and Sahil, are again said to have infected waters this year. The rest of the beaches are said to be clean, but are still dangerous for those who bathe in forbidden areas.
High temperatures also affect food, increasing poisoning cases during the season. Until now, some 400 food poisoning cases have been registered in Azerbaijan this year, according to the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service.
Most of the poisoning cases occur at home and people should be more careful with fruits and vegetables, which have a short shelf life. They must be fresh, stored in a cool place and thoroughly washed to avoid poisoning.
The heat affects not only people, but also animals, as high temperature causes aggression of snakes and scorpions in Azerbaijan every year. At least 15 people have suffered snakebites this year.
In order to avoid such accidents, people should move around more carefully not to step on snakes and scorpions in their gardens or fields, as well as in forests and rocky areas where these animals live.
Most of these summer dangers occur because of people's desire to avoid heat. However, people should not go too far with this intention.
To feel more comfortable in summer they should merely drink more water and avoid alcohol, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less fatty meat.
The best option during the summer heat is to go on vacation. However, not everyone can afford rest during all the hot summer days. That is why people should not forget that working under direct sunbeams should be avoided.
While resting at beaches, the banks of rivers and other water reservoirs, people should be more careful, swim only in the permitted areas and only from 9 a.m. until 12 a.m. and 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Bathing during this time of the day is safer.
Nutrition in summer should also be changed, just as people change clothing for the summer season. There are foods that help to cool the body down when the weather is hot and Azerbaijan is rich in such fruits and vegetables. People should not miss this opportunity and consume more vitamins in summer.
By being more careful and thinking more about their health, Azerbaijanis can live through this hot season of the year without extra problems.