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IT CAN BE difficult to sleep when the temperatures are high and according to Met Eireann, it may stay up to 15 degrees during some nights in the week ahead.
With these high temperatures set to stick around, experts are warning that it’s important to try and keep your home cool and comfortable.
President of the National Association of GPs Maitiu O’Tuathail said keeping curtains closed during the day can be a big help. Speaking to RTÉ, Tuathail said:
Keep your curtains closed throughout the day with the windows open. That will keep the room cool throughout the day.
He also advised people to use a fan and cotton bed linen.
“We’d also say to use cotton bed linen as it allows ventilation and will keep the bed cool.”
Stay hydrated
The entire country is experiencing unusually intense heat so people are also being warned to stay hydrated in order to keep comfortable.
It could get as high as 31 degrees in some areas over the week ahead.
O’Tuathail said, “Our bodies have to work a lot harder to cool us down which means we perspire more so there’s an increased risk of dehydration … it’s really important that people stay hydrated.”
While generally people should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, that should increase to 10 glasses – or 2.5 litres – in this type of heat.
People are also being encouraged to freeze fruits like berries and grapes and snack on them throughout the day as they contain a lot of water.
It’s also advised to avoid alcohol, caffeinated or carbonated drinks as they can further dehydrate.
Safety
Anybody out in the sun is also being warned to use sun cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, or 50 for children.
However, children and the elderly should remain out of the sun at its most intense time between 12 and 3pm.
Homeless services are also appealing for donations of water and sunscreen.
People with elderly and vulnerable neighbours are being asked to check in and make sure they have enough bottled water and that they can stay cool.
While a yellow temperature warning is in place nationwide, the Department of Agriculture has also issued a national forest fire warning due to the dry conditions and high temperatures.
As a result, people are also being asked not to light barbecues outside of designated areas and to take care when disposing of cigarettes as sparks may start a fire.
If the heat continues, water restrictions may have to be implemented.
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No one truly understands the heartbreak but the response of the community has been magnificent.
That special bond between this mother and daughter should be supported in every way possible.
It might help her if she decides to move away and make a new life with her baby, I can’t imagine how much it hurts to be in a place where they should be. Or help pay mortgage etc and not worry financially. No doubt she would give it back in a second to spend one more hour with them.
Ah she’s hardly going move anyway she still has lots family around , say that is very important
It’s heartwarming to see something positive coming from such an awful tragedy…..while nothing will take away their pain and grief hopefully it will at least give them one thing less to worry about for the moment
Money means nothing in a situation like this but fair play to all involved.
Of course not Shane but in the day’s and year’s ahead it will mean a lot. It would be nice for her to have no mortgage or rent to worry about, she’ll have enough to deal with. People want to help her and putting a few quid into an account for her is a way of doing it
It’s not about the money – it is a reflection on how many are/were willing to help you in your time of need. Collections were made by the local community for my own family tragedy and I often look back and cherish the memory that people were there to help. Fair play to all who donated. This story has affected people in all corners of the world- on the DM people from the UK and US were looking to donate also.
We cannot bring them back so this is just a way of sending support. Hard times ahead but hopefully this will help.
Love your surname Mary.
Ta Brian, it’s almost as good as your profile pic ;)
This is probably the worst tragedy I have ever heard of how is that women gonna cope with this when things settle down that’s the scary part
I know it’s too late for this poor family. I can’t stop thinking about them. Slipways at piers everywhere now should be gated off like in that photo so nothing like this can happen again. Very very sad and upsetting.
if ever a ‘go fund me’ was needed; this one is surely it
Glad to see people rallied around. The money won’t replace her family but it will cover their funerals and give her and her little girl some security for now. Such a terrible tragedy.
Woman
The headline says it could happen to anybody yet we don’t hear of people driving off slipways every day.
have your say