By Oula Mahfouz
With rising temperatures in Germany during the summer, dealing with the heat is becoming an increasingly common topic of conversation. In an editorial meeting of the tuenews INTERNATIONAL team, we shared our experiences and tips: Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, keep windows and shutters closed during the day, and drink plenty of water to keep your body cool and hydrated.
Heat and clothing
An important question was whether women who cover their bodies completely suffer more from the heat in summer. A colleague who dresses this way said that covering the body completely is actually an advantage. Only the hands and face—the uncovered areas—would get sunburned. Therefore, covering the body is not a disadvantage, but rather good protection from the sun. She also said that she wears light fabrics such as cotton or linen in summer because they are more comfortable and make the heat more bearable.
There is also an Arabic proverb that says: What protects you from the cold also protects you from the heat. “In desert regions, people – both men and women – cover their entire bodies and heads to protect themselves from the sun. People who work outside in the fields also protect themselves from the sun in this way,” explained a colleague.
Heat in Europe and in the Arab world – is there a difference?
Even though temperatures in Germany are not very different from those in the Arab world, many people – especially those from Arab countries – find the heat here unpleasant. Why? Scientists say that one reason is the high humidity in Europe due to the many forests, rivers, and lakes. This makes it harder for the body to sweat and cool down. In addition, the sky is often clear, without dust or haze, so that the sun’s rays hit the skin directly and strongly. Furthermore, the days in Germany are very long in summer – it can be light for more than 16 hours.
Another factor is the way houses are built in Central Europe. They are designed for cold winters and retain heat well inside. In summer, however, this heat then remains in the house – especially in small rooms – and there is often no air conditioning. Many people are also not physically accustomed to high temperatures because it is usually cool or mild in Germany. That is why many find the summer heat here particularly exhausting.
Situation in Syria: power outages and water shortages
However, there are additional problems in Syria: frequent power outages make it difficult to use fans or air conditioners. At the same time, there has been less and less water and severe drought in recent years. This makes it harder for people there to tolerate the heat. It puts a heavy strain on everyday life.
Further information can be found at:
ZDF heute | Health, sleep, cooling down
BR | Over 35 degrees
SWR | Temperatures above 30 degrees
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