Not only does the calima return to our geography, but all the AEMET alerts indicate that it could be a “big episode” of this phenomenon. In fact, it already began to be noticed in the middle of this week in some areas of the country, such as Melilla, but It will be this Friday, when the phenomenon reaches its greatest magnitude and affect more areas of Spain. However, the most worrying of the predictions is that the levels of suspended dust will reach 45 µg/m3 of PM10 particles -present. A level is already considered harmful to the respiratory system. This is what you should not do to take care of yourself.
In 2022, there were regions in Spain that only breathed clean air for two and a half months, which has direct consequences on health. The studies that have been carried out in the Canary Islands, the area of the country most affected by the haze, show that the increase in particles (PM10 and PM2.5) is related to an increase in hospital emergencies.
In addition, there is a lot of evidence available that proves that very high exposure to this type of fine and very fine particles increases the risk of suffering coronary diseases and cancers. The General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands has drawn up a list of advice for the population. So this is all you shouldn’t do:
Have doors and windows open
Try to keep doors and windows closed. Can clean surfaces with damp cloths to get rid of the dust that gets in. It is important to do it with wet mops and cloths because they raise less dust and prevent it from remaining impregnated in other parts of the house.
Going out to go out
Avoid going outside if you suffer from a chronic respiratory disease. However, even if you are healthy, the Government of the Canary Islands also recommends not going out if it is not necessary. In the case of having to do it, the ideal is be outside as little time as possible and try not to breathe the haze dust. For this, we can make use of FFP2 masks, which will protect us from dust particles.
forget to drink water
In times of calima, we must drink a lot of liquids, so if you are one of those people who only remembers to drink water when they are thirsty, put a bottle in sight to remind you. Similarly, avoid dry environments.
Hit the training hard
The Government of the Canary Islands advises do not perform severe physical exercise while this situation lasts. And, above all, no going out to exercise outdoors. In those areas of the country where this pollution is not so high, we can choose the lowest pollution hours. It is also recommended to practice sports with a mask. In any case, it can be a good excuse to take a break or do our training indoors.
Not taking extra precautions on the road
In this situation, we already know that visibility is greatly reduced. So, if you are driving on the road, take extreme precautions, turn on the lights and slow down.
Cover photo | Tim Hufner
In Jared | Tips and tricks to whiten your white clothes at home and make them look like new