Beating the Heat: Nina Warken's Alcohol-Free, Grill-Free Sporting Recommendations for Summer
Avoid consuming alcohol and grilling food in high temperatures, as advised by Nina Warken.
Looking for ways to stay cool during the soaring temperatures in Germany? Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has you covered with her latest heat protection plan for recreational sports.
The plan, developed alongside the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), is part of a broader initiative to protect citizens from the perils of extreme heat. It addresses various sectors, including psychotherapeutic practices, pharmacies, and organized sports, with the focus on sports being particularly noteworthy given the high number of sports enthusiasts in Germany.
Over 28.8 million people in Germany are active members of the associations represented by the DOSB, making sports a popular pastime. To keep these athletes safe during the heat, Minister Warken's plan offers a 13-page guide filled with recommendations:
- Competitions may need suspension or cancellation based on specific criteria
- Provide facilities with buckets or watering cans filled with cold water
- Offer free sunscreen and sunglasses for children
- Close exposed sports facilities during the heat
- Exclude sick athletes from competitions
- Extend summer breaks and shorten winter breaks
- Avoid serving alcohol and drinks containing sugar, caffeine, and taurine
- Eliminate open-fire or grill catering
Pharmacies are also urged to take precautions, such as:
- Installing water dispensers
- Offering delivery services during hot weather
- Reaching out to at-risk individuals
- Explicitly warning about heat-related dangers
- Enhancing store ventilation systems
Meanwhile, psychotherapeutic practices should create lists of particularly at-risk individuals, review medication plans, and schedule appointments for these individuals during early morning or late evening hours.
Originally presented in 2023 by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, Germany's first heat protection plan was a significant step towards addressing the summer heat-related deaths that have been on the rise in the country. This issue is not unique to Germany, as France began addressing it as early as 2004.
For more updates and information on Nina Warken's heat protection plan for recreational sports, check government announcements or press releases from the German Federal Ministry of Health. Stay cool, Germany! 🍻
- The employment policy, as part of Minister Warken's heat protection plan, advises sports associations to avoid serving alcohol and drinks containing sugar, caffeine, and taurine during summer activities.
- The plan also encourages psychotherapeutic practices to focus on mental health, by creating lists of at-risk individuals and scheduling appointments during early morning or late evening hours.
- Additionally, the plan emphasizes the importance of nutrition in maintaining health and wellness, suggesting a focus on hydration and avoiding food that can exacerbate heat-related issues, such as grilled food.
