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Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 29^th April 2026

 

On April 21st, during a Parliamentary Hearing in the Assembly of the Republic, the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, in the area of Civil Protection, warned of the complexity of the period ahead, stating that “the country faces a very demanding period in the coming times. He guaranteed that resources are being reinforced, firefighters are being valued, and specific responses are being developed for extraordinary scenarios, in a coordinated effort between different entities and decision-making levels.

At the same hearing Mário Silvestre National Operational Commander ANEPC warned that some areas are veritable powder kegs. Stating: “We are careful to try to understand where we are going to have problems. From north to south of the country, it’s a powder keg.” The warning applies to places that were affected in the past”. From what officials are saying we can expect a bad year for fires so we must be prepared and make every effort in terms of prevention and preparedness.

The President of the ANEPC José Manuel Moura meanwhile was questioned by MPs from Livre, CDS-PP and PCP, at the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) into the rural fire business, about a new organic law for ANEPC announced by the Government. This , among the changes foreseen, includes the creation of a dedicated operational command for firefighters and the return of the CDOS, which were abolished in 2023 and replaced by 24 Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands, aligned with the Intermunicipal Communities (CIM).He added “It will be easier to adopt the measure of all of us retreating to where we were,” José Manuel Moura stated, arguing that “civil protection agents should be aligned according to the same administrative division of the territory.”

Luís Neves has simply said that changes to the territorial arm of ANEPC (the national civil emergency authority) are being studied, and that the conclusions will be revealed after this summer.

Some good news is that the Public Safety Police recorded, in the first three months of this year, a decrease of about 10% in the number of thefts within a residence, compared to the same period of 2025. This decline, which translates into fewer 122 registered crimes, is accompanied by an increase in operational efficiency, with the PSP making 22 arrests. The fight against roaming organized crime remains a strategic priority, given the strong impact this type of illegal has on families’ sense of security and privacy.

 

 

News

Extreme heat alerts have increased by 318% in 10 years, a report indicates.

Extreme heat warnings in Europe have increased by 318% between 2015 and 2025, compared to the 1990s, with an estimated 62,000 people expected to die due to heat by 2024, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Countdown Europe 2026 report on health and climate change, published by the specialist journal The Lancet  analyses how human-caused climate change is exacerbating health impacts and causing deaths, and monitors the effects that adaptation and mitigation measures have on health, the economy, and finance.

According to the report, the indicators reveal “a sharp increase” in the direct and indirect negative health impacts of heat exposure in Europe, with almost all (99.6%) of the monitored regions registering an increase in the number of deaths in the period 2015-2024 compared to the years 1991-2000.

Also comparing the two periods, the report indicates that exposure to heat increased by 254% and the average annual number of hours in which heat exposure made physical activity dangerous increased by 88%.

In 2023, more than one million additional people were affected by moderate or severe food insecurity across Europe, compared to the annual average for 1981-2010, due to increased heat waves and drought.

Also due to climate change, cases of infectious diseases have increased in the last decade, with a geographical expansion of some disease vectors, accompanied by more frequent outbreaks. The possibility of dengue fever transmission increased by 297% in the last period studied, compared to 1980-2010.

The authors of the document also note that the risks, vulnerabilities, and impacts of climate change are unequal across populations and regions, and point out that the poorest people are more likely to suffer food insecurity due to heat waves, and that people in the most disadvantaged regions also face higher risks of forest fires and have less access to green spaces.

Also on the negative side, the report points to the increase in biomass burning, which contributes to air pollution and deforestation, suggesting that priority should be given to transitioning residential heating to cleaner alternatives, such as heat pumps.

Audiovisual piracy is on the rise in Portugal: the phenomenon is causing losses of 260 million euros.

The consumption of illegal audiovisual content is increasing in Portugal and already significantly exceeds the European average, raising concerns among authorities and the industry. According to recent data, the demand for pirated content in the country is about 33% above the European average, translating into an annual loss of around 260 million euros for the audiovisual sector.

Although accessing movies, series, or games through unofficial platforms may seem harmless to many users, authorities warn that this type of consumption fuels organized crime networks, often with an international reach and high profits.

Furthermore, these sites also represent an increased risk for users, particularly through fraud and phishing scheme.

According to the national director of the Judicial Police, Carlos Cabreiro , combating piracy has been a priority, but it faces significant challenges, especially due to the complexity of the networks and the need for international cooperation .

The same idea is reinforced by experts in the field, who point to the lack of effective tools and coordination between countries as one of the main obstacles to dismantling these structures.

The data also indicate that the phenomenon is particularly pronounced among younger people. Around 34 % admit to consuming illegal content, which contributes to the normalization of this practice.

According to Paulo Santos, a lawyer and former PJ inspector, this trend requires not only increased oversight, but also greater awareness of the associated risks and consequences.

The economic impact is another critical point. The loss of revenue for companies in the sector affects not only large producers, but also the entire value chain, from breeders to technicians and distributors .

The topic was highlighted at a colloquium held at the headquarters of the Polícia Judiciária (Judicial Police) in Lisbon, which brought together several national and international entities, including Europol, with the aim of discussing strategies and mechanisms to curb the growth of audiovisual piracy.

In a context where digital consumption continues to grow, authorities emphasize that combating this phenomenon depends not only on technical and legal means, but also on a change in user behaviour.

 

 

 

 

Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 4th March 2026

 

The Special Device to Fight Rural Fires (DECIR) 2026 was announced yesterday and strengthens the national response capacity in the critical period (July 1 to September 30). 15,149 operatives, 3,463 vehicles, 2,596 teams and 81 aircraft will be engaged, consolidating the structural reinforcement of the last decade. In 2016 the operatives in this phase stood at 7,475, vehicles 1601 and aircraft 47; thus representing a considerable increase.

The Permanent Intervention Teams grow to 770 teams and 3,864 elements, accompanied by an ongoing investment in operational training and qualification. These teams are usually the first to be deployed in rural fires

However, we note a report on Monday that more than a third of the 278 municipalities on the mainland have outdated emergency plans. According to data obtained by JN, there are more than 100 Municipal Civil Protection Emergency Plans (PMEPC) that should have already been revised, and about fifteen are not even included in the Emergency Planning Information System (SIPE) implemented by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC). With serious accidents and catastrophes, such as those resulting from the recent train of storms that hit the territory, being inevitable, experts argue that only with updated and trained plans is it possible to minimize the consequences of bad weather.

The 1st March was Civil Protection day and a time to remember the destructive power of earthquakes and be aware of the risk they pose in Portugal. On February 28, 1969 Portugal was affected by an earthquake which was felt throughout the country, northern Morocco and part of Spain. The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.3 on the Richter scale. However it was later recalculated at Mag 7.9 making it the largest earthquake recorded in Portugal since the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The south, namely the Algarve, and the Lisbon region were the areas most affected by earthquake, which was also felt in Spain and Morocco. Thirteen people died, two as a direct result of the quake and 11 indirectly and several dozen were injured.

Civil Protection reminds every one of the importance of knowing self-protection measures: know how to act during an earthquake (DROP, COVER, HOLD); identify safe places at home and in the workplace; prepare an emergency kit and follow the official information.

Turn to dust. Due to storm Regina an air mass originating from the deserts of North Africa, carrying suspended dust, is crossing mainland Portugal between March 3rd and 5th, 2026. Poor air quality is being experienced across parts of the mainland. Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) stated that “a large-scale aerosol outflow into the North Atlantic is not uncommon at this time of year, with seasonal biomass burning in Equatorial Africa typically peaking between January and March.

Therefore, and for as long as this phenomenon persists, the Directorate-General of Health recommends that the general population should avoid prolonged exertion, limit outdoor physical activity, and avoid exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritants.

The following groups of citizens, due to their greater vulnerability to the effects of this phenomenon, in addition to complying with the recommendations for the general population, should, whenever feasible, remain inside buildings and, preferably, with the windows closed: children; the elderly; patients with chronic respiratory problems, particularly asthma; patients with cardiovascular disease. Patients with chronic conditions should continue with their current medical treatments.

Our team at Safe Communities wishes you a safe week ahead.

 

News

Environment Minister considers intervention on cliffs “super urgent” after storms.

The Algarve has been identified as the region with the most problems, including fissures in the iconic rock formation at Peneco beach. The government strategy is divided into three areas: cliff safety, beach restoration, and medium-term structural projects, with the aim of completing urgent works before the bathing season.

The Minister of the Environment stated on Tuesday in Albufeira that stabilizing the cliffs is a “super urgent” priority for the Government to ensure coastal safety, following the worsening erosion caused by recent storms.

“The intervention on the cliffs is one of the ‘necessary and extremely urgent projects to guarantee the safety of those who visit the beaches, this being the most urgent part’,” Maria da Graça Carvalho told journalists on the sidelines of a visit to beaches in the municipality of Albufeira, in the district of Faro.

The minister visited Maria Luísa and Peneco beaches in Albufeira to assess the damage caused by the storms that affected mainland Portugal between the end of January and the first weeks of February, revealing that the damage extends from Moledo, in the municipality of Caminha, district of Viana do Castelo, to Vila Real de Santo António, in the district of Faro.

However, he added, the Algarve is the region where “there are more problems with the cliffs and the most complicated cases,” resulting from the sea storms, rain, and strong winds that have plagued the country in recent weeks.

Maria da Graça Carvalho revealed that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is concluding an inspection of the entire coastline, with the conclusions and necessary projects to be presented “in eight days” by the APA in Porto.

During the visit, the minister listened to the concerns of the Mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, regarding the intervention “to save the rock formation on the beach that gives its name to Peneco beach, where fissures have been detected.”

According to the mayor, the rock “represents a danger and could collapse at any moment ,” and a safety perimeter has been established to prevent people from approaching.

“It’s something very symbolic, an emblematic rock that represents Albufeira. We will do everything to preserve it,” he assured, referring, however, to the APA (Portuguese Environment Agency) and the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC) “a technical or constructive solution to safeguard it in the best way.”

The minister will ask for help from LNEC.

The Minister of the Environment indicated that she will ask the LNEC (National Laboratory for Civil Engineering) for help in “supporting a decision” on what to do regarding the rock formation, reinforcing that these complex interventions aim to “guarantee the safety” of those who visit the beaches.

Maria da Graça Carvalho also mentioned that the Ministry of the Environment’s strategy is divided into three areas of intervention on the coastline, with different degrees of urgency: cliff safety, beach restoration through sand replenishment, and medium-term projects that require environmental impact studies.

Short-term projects include those related to preparing for the bathing season, such as stabilizing cliffs, small and medium-sized beach replenishment with sand, and repairing walkways.

“The goal is for these works to be completed before the start of the bathing season, using quick and flexible financing,” the official added.

The structural projects foresee larger-scale interventions, which require environmental impact studies, and are expected to be ready only for the bathing season next year.

“We have to do it, and it has to be done well,” the minister reiterated, noting that although the Algarve presents the most complicated problems regarding the cliffs, the APA’s monitoring “is continuous and systematic throughout the national territory.”

According to the minister, work to reinforce the sand on some of the “most emblematic beaches in the country” should begin between May and the beginning of June.

 

25 years since the Entre-os-Rios tragedy: a reflection on the “ambiguous grief” of the families of 36 victims.

Sandra Torres, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Porto, reflects on the difficulties of the grieving process in tragedies such as the collapse of the Entre-os-Rios Bridge in which the bodies of 36 victims were never found.

The fact that only 23 bodies have been recovered out of the 59 victims of the Hintze Ribeiro bridge collapse tragedy in Entre-os-Rios 25 years ago has led many family members to experience “ambiguous grief,” says an expert on the subject.

“In psychology, this type of grief, in which people are physically absent but, fundamentally, psychologically present, is called ambiguous grief. This is precisely to, in some way, expose the difficulty in balancing a grieving process alongside a cycle of maintaining hope that often occurs in these processes. One of the great difficulties associated with this type of grief, I would say, is the great absence of farewell,” Sandra Torres explains to Lusa.

A lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto (FPCEUP), responsible for several curricular units on grief, reflects on the 36 victims who did not have a funeral because their bodies were not found, following the tragedy of March 4, 2001, in which 59 people died when the fourth pillar of the Hintze Ribeiro bridge collapsed.

The importance of saying goodbye.

“Funerals often serve this function. Even if they have been symbolically performed, there is no possibility for people to have gone through a farewell process that, in their minds, only happens when the body is actually present. And therefore, however much there may have been public acknowledgment of this loss, this more physical farewell can never be carried out by these people. And this is what, in a way, brings about this situation of ambiguity that often prevents the acceptance and emotional reorganization that is required in a grieving process,” he explains.

For some, this ambiguity manifests itself with “persistent rumination” of the process, for others with “continuous mental searching,” with “what ifs, what ifs,” a ‘pain’ that comes from balancing hope and rationality, an expressive pain that can lead to “other emotions that are often strong, intense, and difficult, in which the most predominant tend to be guilt and/or anger.”

“From the point of view of anger, it can often be directed towards others. When we look at blame, we look more at an internal dimension, when we look at anger we often look at it from an external direction, and here it can be directed towards the political and administrative responsibilities that existed in the maintenance of the infrastructure, or even the fact that the authorities did not do everything they could to find the bodies…”, she exemplifies, as “possible thoughts” associated with it.

The consequence ends up being “making the whole adjustment process more difficult,” which in turn causes “grief to remain very intense over the years ,” with the weight of society potentially making people feel “isolated and misunderstood,” as people are expected to move on.

“By hindering the entire adjustment process, grief remains very intense over the years. (…) And often there are some processes here that may not be conscious, even in the face of society: ‘if I go through this grieving process, I will be saying that in some way I have accepted this, I have resigned myself, and deep down what I want is to keep the person alive’,” adds the specialist.

Each person’s reactions “can be very diverse.”

Since grief is a “deeply individual” process, each person’s reactions “can be very diverse,” and in circumstances like the tragedy in Entre-os-Rios, “with all this media attention involved,” there are people for whom the memory brings back old wounds, but for others it is a sign of homage, “a way of keeping alive the people who were lost.”

“Maintaining a connection with the person who was lost today is seen as an adaptive process, and this can manifest itself either in valuing memories, in talking to people in thought, or in experiences that honour their legacy. Therefore, these bonds can provide comfort and meaning, even if in many circumstances this means remembering and reliving the pain of the loss that happened 25 years ago,” she points out.

This adjustment to a new life, even more than two decades later, must be understood as a reconstruction “of the meaning of and the relationship with the person who was lost.”

“We often say that people don’t abandon the past, they change their relationship with it; that’s what’s intended in a grieving process. But often this is what people feel: ‘If I don’t show that I continue to suffer, if I don’t show that I continue to deprive myself of everything that is joyful, I have no way of showing others that this person continues to be very important to me,'” says Sandra Torres.

Social support, especially in the case of a “violent and traumatic loss, clearly unexpected,” takes on a highly relevant role in these processes, as does the understanding that diversity is the touchstone for breaking a “myth that is created in society: grief is not a linear process,” and it is not a rule that it becomes easier with the passing of years.

“What’s important is that these moments focused on loss also alternate with moments when people begin to take on tasks, often those that the missing person used to do, adjust to new social roles and routines, manage to resolve practical day-to-day issues, and even, in some way, reassess their own identity and their own sense of purpose in life. And it is in this alternation and between these moments that people move forward,” advises Sandra Torres.

“Grief is simply love that has nowhere to go,” she adds.

 

 

 

Safety and Security Report Wednesday 19^th February 2026

 

Good afternoon everyone. Firstly we wish everyone, in particular our Chinese followers in Mandarin: “Xīnnián hǎo” (新年好), or in Cantonese: “Gong hei fat choy” (恭喜发财). I am of course referring to Happy Lunar New Year.  This year Lunar New Year 2026 fell on Tuesday 17th, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on March 3rd.  Traditionally it’s a time to honour ancestors and deities, with family reunions and street parades, and fireworks to drive off evil spirits.

This year Lunar New Year Day coincided with the Carnivals in Portugal. Despite recent weather conditions leading to the postponement or cancellation of some celebrations in certain locations, the festivities continue to enliven many Portuguese cities with festive parades, music, culture, and lots of colour. Certainly in the Algarve the weather was fine for the events, one of the largest being in Loulé on, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The Monday event was attended by around 15,000 people! For those who attended we hope you enjoyed yourselves.

Turning to the aftermath of the storms. We are now in the recovery phase of a series of storms that have impacted the Portuguese mainland. A series which has resulted in severe damage to property, infrastructure, business and not the least 16 deaths. But what will be the lessons learned from this, one example the fact that there are still after nearly 3 weeks 9,000 people without electricity!

With a significant portion of the scientific community warning that extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and more intense, the question arises: does it make sense to rebuild exactly as before? Or are we rebuilding infrastructure for a climate that has already changed? Perhaps that is why the idea of ​​developing an extensive network of underground cables gained traction in the days following the storm, almost as an intuitive response to the image of fallen towers.

But for the former president of Endesa, there is one factor that immediately hinders the momentum. “The underground electrical network is much more expensive than the overhead electrical network,” he points out, emphasizing that this cost “has to be paid in the consumers’ bills. It’s what we call contracted power, therefore, the fixed part of the cost that we have on the electricity bill, and therefore there is this price issue, which is not negligible; on the contrary, it is quite important and burdensome.”

Burying the network multiplies the installation cost by “10 to 15 times,” emphasizes also João Peças Lopes, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and associate director of INESC TEC, also noting that the issues are not limited to costs/price.

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that an underground cable is not simply a buried overhead power line. “An underground cable has to pass through existing land-based communication routes, meaning it runs under roads, highways, streets, paths, etc because it can’t go under houses or agricultural/forest fields. Therefore, it has to follow a longer route, and the entire construction process is much more arduous.”

The storm, he says, showed precisely that: there are limits to what money/engeneering can solve. “There are things where, whether for technical and engineering reasons, or for economic reasons, there really isn’t an easy solution.

Yesterday a new landslide occurred near the cliff in Santo António da Caparica burying three houses. According to authorities, the houses were already uninhabited, as the occupants had earlier been evacuated, but the accident forced the evacuation of another 30 people from nearby homes for their safety. On Monday, the mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros, admitted that many of the people who had to leave their homes in the municipality due to the landslide, following the bad weather, will not be able to return to their houses.

The persistence of periods of heavy rain in recent days has been causing landslides in several parts of the country. This can endanger people, homes and highways. To avoid the possibility of casualties, it is important to know the warning signs such as: new cracks in walls, roads or grounds; leaning walls or cracks; trees especially large one at risk of falling; rushing water coming out of the ground or the slope; roads with inundations or cracks and earth moving with loose rocks. If the situation is urgent call 112.

Our team at Safe Communities Portugal widh you a safe and happy week ahead

News

This Tuesday, around 9,000 E-Redes customers remain without electricity following Storm Kristin.

This is the most recent report from E-Redes. The previous report, from Monday, identified 11,000 customers without power.

In a statement, the company reinforces the warning that if the public identifies fallen or damaged electrical infrastructure, they should stay away and report the situation to E-Redes (800 506 506 or balcaodigital.e-redes.pt).

The storms that battered the country claimed 16 lives and also left hundreds injured and displaced.

The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, falling trees and structures, road closures, school and transport service disruptions, and power, water and communications outages, floods and inundations are the main material consequences of the storm.

The Central, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo regions were the most affected.

The state of emergency that encompassed the 68 most affected municipalities ended on Sunday.

 

 

Portugal safety and security report Wednesday 21^st January 2025

 

Good afternoon. It will be a markedly wintry week, growing in intensity throughout the next few days. It started calmly on Monday, just some precipitation in the northwest, from Tuesday and specially from Wednesday it starts a pattern of low pressure systems approaching and with an impact that will be more pronounced and direct on mainland Portugal.

Storm Ingrid will bring very adverse weather conditions to the continent. The weather will worsen in the coming days in mainland Portugal, with falling temperatures, rain, strong winds and rough seas. Starting Thursday, a more severe depression may form, which will predictably be named ‘Ingrid’. It is expected to be a major storm with four risk factors that should be taken into account: stormy sea conditions, with waves up to 10 meters, especially between Figueira da Foz and Sines; winds with gusts up to 90 km/h and heavy rain and snowfall, with a very significant accumulation factor in some locations above 700 meters altitude. So be prepared with further IPMA weather warnings and ANEPC preventive measures expected over to be announced in the coming days.

This week the news has been dominated by the fatal railway accident on Sunday, Jan 18, involving the Iryo train 6189, traveling from Málaga to Atocha (Madrid) with 317 passengers on board, which derailed near Adamuz (Córdoba) and crossed onto the adjacent track. This caused the derailment of another train, the Alvia 2384, traveling in the opposite direction at that precise moment, from Madrid to Huelva with about 100 passengers. At the time of the collision, according to official sources, the Alvia was traveling at a speed of 200 km/h.

The scale of this tragedy is underscored by the fact that, after searching through the train wreckage, authorities are still unable to provide a definitive death toll. At least one more uncertainty remains: the fate of passengers on two train cars embedded in an embankment next to the tracks. The technical difficulties in extracting the two wrecked cars are immense, according to officials from both the central government and the Andalusian regional government. “Now, with the ongoing work and the heavy machinery, we hope that whatever remains can be extracted and transported soon to the Forensic Institute,” they added, stating that the work would continue “throughout the night.”

Thirty-nine people remain hospitalized in various Andalusian hospitals: 35 adults and four children. Of these, 13 patients are in intensive care, all adults. The Integrated Data Center (CID), the technical body that integrates forensic doctors and technicians with state security forces, has received 43 missing persons reports filed with the Guardia Civil headquarters in Huelva, Córdoba, Málaga, Seville, and Madrid.

Such rail accidents are relatively rare, but with trains travelling at very high speeds the impact in terms of loss of life can be considerable. In Portugal the ANEPC regularly organises railway accident exercises to test the response by the emergency entities involved.

Unfortunately the elderly are sometimes targeted by criminals, in this particular case when using ATM machine. Recently the GNR Aveiro Territorial Command, arrested a 58-year-old man for robbery at ATM machines in the municipality of Aveiro. As part of an investigation into the crimes of robbery and theft, the GNR officers determined that the suspect approached particularly vulnerable victims, aged between 65 and 83, near ATM machines, stealing money from them, sometimes resorting to the use of force.

During the police investigation, two searches were carried out, one at a residence and the other in a vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of €778 in cash. It is crucial to reinforce prevention and attention to this type of situation. Advice is not to trust strangers who approach or try to start a conversation while using the ATM; keep your distance from others while using the ATM, and if you suspect anything, move away immediately and seek help.

We wish you a safe week ahead.

News

More than 43,000 elderly people living alone have been identified by the GNR (National Republican Guard).

After Guarda (5,852 elderly people) and Vila Real (5,167), the districts where the most elderly people were identified were Bragança (4,191), Faro (3,414), Viseu (3,304), Beja (2,749), Évora (2,381) and Castelo Branco (2,316).

More than 43,000 elderly people living alone or in vulnerable situations have been identified this year by the GNR (National Republican Guard), with the districts of Guarda and Vila Real being those where the most cases were detected, the corporation reported.

In a statement regarding the Senior Census 2025 operation, which took place between October 1st and November 16th, the GNR (National Republican Guard) indicated that during the initiative it carried out several actions of direct contact with these people to alert them to the need to adopt safety behaviors, minimizing the risk of becoming victims of crime.

After Guarda (5,852 elderly people) and Vila Real (5,167), the districts where the most elderly people were identified were Bragança (4,191), Faro (3,414), Viseu (3,304), Beja (2,749), Évora (2,381) and Castelo Branco (2,316).

In the 2025 edition of the Senior Census operation, the GNR (National Republican Guard) carried out a series of classroom and door-to-door actions, reaching a total of 35,143 senior citizens.

Hiking and Hypothermia – Prevention Signs and Treatment

A group of six hikers were successfully rescued on Saturday, January 17, in the Estrela da Estrela after being unable to complete a trail due to heavy snowfall. All members of the group were safely rescued and in good health, with no hospital referral being required.

According to IPMA the municipality of Seia where they were hiking experienced temperatures ranging from minus -0.5 to a maximum of 3.4C and maximum winds of 16 km/h that day.

The ANEPC reminds people of the need for proper mountain activity planning, following safety guidelines, and checking weather conditions and trail conditions, especially in areas with increased natural risks.

Such situations can result in Hypothermia. Knowing what it is, how to recognise the signs, prevention and treatment are therefore vitally important.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

Hypothermia can happen when a person is exposed to very cold temperature for a long period of time. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.

Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 4.5°C) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

SIGNS – Includes: shivering, exhaustion or feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss slurred speech and drowsiness

TREATMENT – Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you notice any of the above signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 35° C, get medical attention immediately! If you are not able to get medical help right away, try to warm the person up.

• Get the person into a warm room or shelter.
• Remove any wet clothing the person is wearing.
• Warm the centre of the person’s body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. You can also use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
• Warm drinks can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic drinks. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket.
• Get the person proper medical attention as soon as possible

PREVENTION – To reduce your risk of hypothermia while hiking, you should dress warmly, stay hydrated, and have extra supplies including the following: Wear layers, hat and gloves; cover your skin, including your scalp; wear wool or synthetic blends, which retain warmth even when damp, avoid cotton, which dries slowly and saps body heat; stay hydrated; bring plenty of water and high-energy snacks; avoid alcohol and minimize caffeine; have extra supplies; carry a daypack with extra supplies, such as thermal blankets and dry clothing.

Plan ahead, check weather conditions (is it safe to go?), travel in groups or with a partner and inform someone of your plans and expected return time.