Heat wave bakes southern Europe, sparking warnings to stay inside, drink water and limit exercise - Times of India
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ROME: Italian health officials intensified heat warnings Monday as southern Europe began a brutally hot week with temperatures expected to top 40 Celsius - or 104 Fahrenheit - on a continent already sizzling under the sun and overburdened by tourists. The health ministry urged regions to beef up house-call services so older people don't have to go out if they need medical care and to set up dedicated heat stations at hospitals to treat emergency cases. The ministry also issued 10 recommendations to protect elderly people, the sick and pets from the heat, urging people to stay indoors during the hottest hours, drink at least 1.5 liters (nearly half a gallon) of water a day and refrain from strenuous exercise at peak daylight times. Local celebrities went on state-run RAI television to read the recommendations aloud, in hopes of spreading the message. The culprit is a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus - the multi-headed dog that guards gates to the underworld