When it is hot, it is important to pay extra attention to those who are unable to take good care of themselves. This includes the elderly, people with chronic conditions and young children. For these groups, heat can lead to health problems more quickly. The National Heatwave Plan helps prevent this as much as possible.
National heat plan active?
Directly to
- Health advice at KNMI code yellow for heat
These recommendations always apply as soon as code yellow is in force. - Health advice at KNMI code orange for heat
These are all the advices of code yellow, plus additional advices. - Health advice at KNMI code red for heat
These are all the opinions of code orange, plus additional opinions.
Visit or call
Check on vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with chronic illnesses, to make sure they’re OK. The same applies to young children or people you don’t usually look after, such as an elderly neighbour.
Make sure there are enough drinks available
Place plenty of water, soft drinks, tea or coffee within reach. Encourage the person you’re visiting to drink more than usual, even if they say they’re not thirsty.
Keep the home cool
You can do this by closing blinds and awnings or using fans or air conditioning. Open windows once it has cooled down outside. Advise the person you’re visiting to find a cooler space if the home doesn’t cool down.
Help the person stay cool
Make sure the person you’re visiting stays in the shade and recommend that they do activities such as shopping before 12.00 noon or after 6 pm. Ask whether you should prepare a cooling foot bath.
Be alert for symptoms of heat illness
These include headache, dizziness, tiredness and/or extreme thirst. If drinking extra fluids and keeping cool don’t help, call their GP. Young children should not be left in parked cars. Be especially alert for this in hot weather.
Check how heat affects medications
Medicines may work differently in hot weather. The pharmacy can offer advice on medication use during hot weather.
If a code yellow has already been issued
The recommendations for code yellow still apply for code orange.
Look after yourself and others
Stay out of the sun and avoid strenuous activity, especially between 12 noon and 6 pm. Use blinds, awnings, a fan or air conditioning to keep your home cool. Drink water regularly. Check on vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with chronic illnesses, to make sure they’re OK.
Find a cool space
If it’s too hot at home, find a cool or air-conditioned public space, such as a shaded park, a library or an indoor shopping centre.
Plan your journey
Check a public transport journey planner or rwsverkeersinfo.nl (for motorways) before you set off. Take water with you and make sure your phone is charged. Work at home if possible or in another cool space.
Recognising the symptoms of heat illness
How to recognize the symptoms of overheating
Symptoms include headache, dizziness and tiredness. Cool yourself down and drink plenty of fluids. Call your GP if symptoms persist.
How to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion
Symptoms include fainting, cramp, a rapid heart rate, and a pale and clammy skin. If you (or someone else) are showing signs of heat exhaustion, get some rest and take a lukewarm shower or use wet cloths to cool down. Call your GP If symptoms persist.
How to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke
Symptoms include nausea, a body temperature above 39 degrees, red skin, convulsions and a loss of consciousness. Call 112 immediately!
Look after yourself and others during hot weather
Staying safe in extreme heat
Be prepared
Know where you can go if it’s too hot at home. And know how to recognise severe health problems during a heatwave and what you should do. Be prepared for water supply interruptions and power cuts with bottled water and fully charged power banks and batteries.
Stay indoors, stay cool
Everyone’s health is at risk. Even if you’re young and healthy. Avoid strenuous activities, stay indoors in a cool place and keep drinking plenty of water. Take care of the elderly, the sick and young children in your local community.
Postpone activities
Only undertake activities if you know you’ll be able to cool down, stay hydrated and take breaks. This applies everywhere:
outdoors, at home and at the office. Don’t set off without taking water and a fully charged phone with you.
Know where you can go
Check with the municipality or Municipal Public Health Service (GGD)
Check your municipality or GGD website for hot weather help, such as cool spaces or support for vulnerable people. Contact your GGD if you have questions about what you should do during extreme heat.
Help each other
Use a neighbourhood app, your community centre or pop round to see your neighbours to check what they are organising and how you can help.
Call a doctor in an emergency
If someone has severe heatrelated symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, red skin, convulsions or a temperature above 39 degrees, call 112 immediately!
More information
- Visit Heat | RIVM
- Contact your local Municipal Public Health Service
- Check the weather forecast at KNMI
- Contact your doctor or pharmacy if you have any questions about health problems or medication.
What RIVM does?
The National Heatwave Plan is a warning system. RIVM uses the plan to inform organisations, healthcare and other professionals and informal carers about the expected heat. They can take the heat into account when giving care and support to vulnerable groups. This way, discomfort and health problems caused by heat can be reduced and, where possible, prevented. When the National Heatwave Plan has been activated, the message for everyone is: take care of each other and pay extra attention to vulnerable groups like the elderly and young children.
When is the National Heatwave Plan activated?
The National Heatwave Plan is activated when a period of lasting heat or extremely high temperatures are expected. How hot it is during the day is not the only factor in this decision. The temperature at night, the wind chill factor and humidity also play an important role.
The National Heatwave Plan is not the same as a heat wave
The National Heatwave Plan is activated based on the weather forecast. A heat wave can only be identified afterwards. A heat wave is defined as temperatures of 25 °C or higher in De Bilt on at least five days in a row, with at least three days hotter than 30 °C.
Warnings per province – not all regions are equally hot
Not all regions of the Netherlands are equally hot. Temperatures can vary significantly from one region to the next. It is therefore also possible to activate the National Heatwave Plan for individual provinces.