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Demonstrator by Shopitech, not an official website. The ministry is fictional. Demonstrator translation, not reviewed by a specialist.

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Musterland (fictional sender)
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A four-storey apartment building with a street tree in the first morning light. The shutters are up and the street is still in shade.

Heat. Be prepared.

One hot day on Musterstraße, from half past six in the morning to ten at night. For each time of day you will find what you can do: for yourself, for children and for older people near you.

The building in cool, bluish morning light. Several windows are open.

Air the rooms now

Shortly after sunrise it is coolest outside. Open as many windows as you can at the same time. Cross ventilation brings fresh air into every room quickly.

As soon as it is warmer outside than inside, airing no longer helps. Then close the windows.

In the morning, check whether the German Weather Service has issued a heat warning for your district. You will find the current heat warning further down this page.

Source: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German)

The sun is higher. The shutters on the sunny side are down.

Keep the sun out

Keep the windows closed during the day and shade the windows the sun shines on. Shading on the outside works best: roller shutters, window shutters or external blinds. Light-coloured materials reflect a lot of sunlight.

Where that is not possible, use roller blinds or blinds inside. On a balcony or terrace, awnings, sun sails or parasols create shade.

Source: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German)

Midday light. Under the street tree in front of the building, a bench is in the shade.

Stay in the shade

UV radiation is strongest between 11 am and 3 pm. Stay in the shade as much as you can, ideally under trees: they give shade and cool the air. Large areas of asphalt or concrete store heat, so avoid them.

Even in the shade, about half of the UV radiation still reaches you. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher, a hat and sunglasses.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Beschäftigte“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Babys und Kinder“ (in German)

Early afternoon. A water jug stands on the bench in the shade.

Drink before you feel thirsty

In hot weather you need about two to three litres spread over the day. Drink a glass about every hour, even if you are not thirsty. Thirst only sets in once your body has already lost a lot of fluid.

Water, unsweetened tea and juice spritzer of one part juice to three parts water are good choices. Alcohol and a lot of coffee strain the circulation. If you have a heart or kidney condition, agree the amount you drink with your doctor.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Menschen ab 65 und Angehörige“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Babys und Kinder“ (in German)

Late afternoon heat. The light is yellow and glaring, the air shimmers above the street. All shutters on the sunny side are down.

The hottest hour

It is not hottest at midday but in the late afternoon, between 5 and 6 pm. The heated ground releases its warmth into the air only gradually.

Indoors, aim for less than 26 °C during the day and less than 20 °C at night. At 32 °C during the day or 24 °C at night at the latest, you need to cool actively or go somewhere cooler.

A fan helps up to about 35 °C; above that it can even add to overheating. Stay in the coolest room. If your home has become very hot, spend two to three hours a day somewhere cool, for example a library, a church or an air-conditioned shopping centre.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Babys und Kinder“ (in German)

Evening light. Lights are on in some windows, the front door can be seen.

Knock next door

People aged 65 and over are at particular risk in hot weather. They sweat less and feel thirsty less often. The very old, from about 75, are affected most. Pay special attention to older people who live alone and have trouble getting about.

Get in touch with older, ill or isolated people at least once a day. Ask how much they have drunk and how warm it is in their home.

Source: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German)

Night. The building lies in blue darkness, the shutters are up, some windows are open.

The night cools down

Now it is cooler outside than inside. Open the windows and air the rooms overnight until the morning. Sleep in the coolest room, with light bedding or just a cotton sheet.

The German Weather Service issues heat warnings when strong heat stress is forecast and homes no longer cool down enough at night. People who sleep badly cope worse with the heat the next day.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), „Hitzewarnungen“ (in German)

Take warning signs seriously

Dizziness, weakness, strong thirst or headache can be first signs. Go somewhere cooler straight away, rest and drink water, cool but not ice-cold. Get medical help if things do not improve after an hour of rest and cooling.

112

Emergency number in case of danger to life

  • Clouded consciousness, unconsciousness, circulatory collapse or severe shortness of breath can be signs of life-threatening heatstroke. Call 112 immediately.
  • Until help arrives: move the person into the shade or somewhere cooler. Loosen tight clothing. Cool the head, neck, hands and legs with damp cloths, cool but not ice-cold.
  • In children, a raised body temperature with hot, red skin that does not sweat and a severe headache is an emergency. Call 112.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Beschäftigte“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Babys und Kinder“ (in German)

Heat warning for your district

Enter your district (Landkreis) or independent city. You will then see the current heat warnings from the German Weather Service (DWD).

The German Weather Service warns at two levels: strong heat stress, when the perceived temperature in the early afternoon is above about 32 °C and the night brings little cooling, and extreme heat stress from a perceived temperature of 38 °C.

Only the warnings of the German Weather Service on dwd.de/warnungen and in the WarnWetter app are binding.

Our server collects the warnings from the German Weather Service every 30 minutes. Your browser only contacts our server, not the DWD.

Suggestions while typing need JavaScript. Without JavaScript, send the name and the page will look for the matching district.

dwd.de/warnungen
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst, licence CC BY 4.0

Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), „Hitzewarnungen“ (in German)

Am I prepared?

Ten questions, one minute. At the end you will see where you are already well prepared and which tips can still help you.

Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent.

Without JavaScript the page shows the matching tip directly under each question.

  1. 1 Do you know where to find the heat warnings for your district?

    The German Weather Service issues warnings for every district. You can find them on dwd.de, in the WarnWetter app and on this page.

  2. 2 Can you shade the windows the sun shines on?

    Roller shutters, window shutters or external blinds work best. Inside, roller blinds and blinds help.

  3. 3 Do you know which room in your home stays coolest?

    In hot weather, spend your time in the coolest room and sleep there too.

  4. 4 Do you have a thermometer at home?

    Check the room temperature regularly. From 32 °C during the day or 24 °C at night you need to cool actively or go somewhere cooler.

  5. 5 On hot days, do you drink a glass about every hour, even without feeling thirsty?

    Two to three litres a day, ideally water or unsweetened tea. Set the amount out in the morning.

  6. 6 If you take medication regularly: have you talked to your doctor or pharmacy about heat?

    Some medicines make heat harder to bear. Ask before the heatwave, but do not stop anything on your own.

  7. 7 Do you know a cool place nearby where you can spend a few hours?

    Libraries, churches or air-conditioned shopping centres are often cooler. Some local authorities set up cool rooms; ask your council.

  8. 8 In hot weather, does someone get in touch with you every day, or do you check on someone?

    Arrange a daily phone call. Ask how much has been drunk and how warm it is at home.

  9. 9 Do you have a hat and sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to hand?

    Only go outside with sun protection, even if you plan to stay in the shade.

  10. 10 Do you know the warning signs of heatstroke and when to call 112?

    In case of clouded consciousness, unconsciousness or circulatory collapse, call 112 immediately. The warning signs are listed under “Take warning signs seriously”.

Sources: Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Empfehlungen bei Hitze: alle wichtigen Tipps“ (in German) ; Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), „Hitzewarnungen“ (in German) ; Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), „Hitzeschutz für Menschen ab 65 und Angehörige“ (in German)

Poster and social media images

The poster comes in A2 and A4 as a print PDF with 3 mm bleed, plus three images for social media. Everything is made from the same template as this website.

Download all materials (in German)