A new app available on any electronic device will allow you to encrypt and track deaths in Spain that can be attributed to high temperatures. There were 2,155 deaths from this cause last summerThe Supreme Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) reported today.
A scientific team consisting of the Institute for Environmental Diagnostics and Water Research (IDAEA/CSIC), the University of Valencia and the Foundation for Climate Research (FIC) has developed a web application using official data from the Climate Monitoring system. ) and temperatures recorded by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) to calculate the mortality rates attributable to moderate heat, extreme heat and extreme heat in Spain from June to August.
Application named Heat Attributable Mortality Rate (MACE) in Spain According to the Supreme Council for Scientific Research, it can be used through the browser of any computer or electronic device.
MACE is updated daily and provides temperature-related mortality data for the past five years. 2022 is the most important, with 3,012 deaths recorded CSIC emphasized that extreme temperatures occur for 28 days in summer.
The third year with the most deaths
“If we talk about the effect of temperature on health, The summer of 2023 was the third summer with the highest death rates attributable to extreme heat, with 2,155 deaths.After the heat wave in 2003 and the summer of 2022,” explained Aurelio Tobías, IDAEA researcher and author of the study.
To calculate this data, the research team has data on the number of daily deaths from MOMO and daily temperatures from Aemet.
Mortality attributable to moderate heat is calculated as deaths associated with temperatures between the temperatures at which the daily mortality rate is minimal and the extreme heat threshold.
“Excessive temperature threshold, 95th percentile; This means that only 5 percent of days between June and September of the last 10 years had the same or higher temperatures”, explained Dominic Royé, FIC researcher and author of the study.
In this way, the mortality rate attributable to extreme heat is calculated from deaths due to daily temperatures above that threshold.
Finally, the CSIC reported that the mortality attributable to extreme heat was considered as a fraction of the excess heat associated with days of maximum heat intensity, emphasizing that this tool represents a transfer of knowledge from research applied to the potential impact of heat. Heat on human health.
“Aemet and the Ministry of Health report that the heat wave is coming, but do not report its potential impact on health or even the impact of isolated days of extreme heat,” Tobías said. said.
The researcher believes that if citizens are also aware of the impact of extreme heat on health, This app can encourage behavior change It is based on the recommendations contained in the Ministry of Health’s National Plan for Preventive Actions Due to High Temperatures.
These recommendations include drinking water and fluids frequently, staying in cool places, reducing outdoor physical activity in the middle hours of the day, wearing light clothing that allows breathing, or eating light meals that will help you replenish mineral salts.
Currently, MACE calculates death rates only in summer and at a national level, without taking into account geographical differences or vulnerable population groups by age or gender.
The authors are currently working to include these variables and expand data collection from May to October for the next version of the app, estimated for 2024.
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Contact address of the environmental department:krisclimatica@prensaiberica.es
Source: Informacion
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