The relentless summer sun has turned the streets across the Province of Alicante into an open-air oven, and those who suffer the most from this situation are the homeless. During a heat wave that has broken records, the Red Cross has intensified its efforts to reduce the risks associated with extreme heat.
The intense heat of recent weeks seriously endangers the health of people living on the streets and therefore it is more important to offer services and advice to avoid heat stroke and, if necessary, direct these people to health or care resources.
Since the first week of July, the Red Cross has deployed an emergency team that has assisted 117 homeless people, distributing more than 400 kits to help them cope with the high temperatures. These kits include basic but vital items: water bottles, isotonic drinks, thermos flasks, sun creams, hats, and insect repellents, both spray and citronella bracelets.
Luisa Martín, a Red Cross worker, explained the importance of this service for the homeless. “Throughout the summer, from the Low Demand Intervention Centre (CIBE), we have been handing out bottles of water and explaining what to do during the heat wave to people who spend all day on the street. Now we go out every day, morning and night, to hand out the kits and explain action they should take to avoid heat stroke, both for themselves and for the pets they have.”
The Mobile Social Emergency Unit, which patrols the streets from Monday to Saturday, provides direct assistance to homeless people living in public areas, tents or shacks. Tania Sanchís, a social worker, explained that “during the heat wave, we maintain all the aid and increase deliveries to prevent the heat. We too deliver caps, more water, isotonic drinks and provide advice because these are people who spend most of their time on the street. We recommend that they stay in central areas in the shade or reduce their time on the street during the hottest hours.”
One particular request has been for mosquito repellent in the kits. ” The request came from the users themselves, as in summer the number of bites increases, which often causes injuries. We thought it was a request that made sense,” said Sanchís.
The lack of air-conditioned areas in the city is a growing concern for Red Cross workers. ” Spain is the second country where there have been the most deaths due to heat, and that happens when you don’t have air-conditioned locations available,” said Martín. “Not only for the homeless, but for everyone. We need safe spaces where people can relax, with fresh water or with an emergency button so they can be attended to if they feel ill,” said the social worker.
Juanjo, one of the people who has received support from the Red Cross, stressed the importance of having these resources available. “This is essential, because if it weren’t for these things, where would we be able to get cold water? Cold water is absolutely essential for me because I am diabetic, and even more so when a person walks 8 or 9 hours a day, sunscreen is also essential; every day, before going out, I put it on,” he said.
The feeling of being overwhelmed by the heat is intense among those living on the streets. “The heat is very bad, we are very overwhelmed, and from early in the morning we are on the street. At 10 o’clock we don’t know where we are. Thank goodness the Red Cross is open, at least they give us something cool. Otherwise, where would we go? There is nowhere in Alicante where we can go, it is the only thing that is open now. It helps us and allows us to have us a break,” added Juanjo.
