Due to the unseasonably high temperatures, the ministry of health is currently drawing up an emergency plan to deal with health risks related to hot weather, particularly for those most at risk, namely senior citizens and children.

Plans include the frequent transmission of medical advice and suggestions for handling extreme temperatures as well as a national emergency tollfree line (tel. 1500) for the summer period with operators on call to handle heat emergencies.

The civil protection unit will shortly reactivate its summer service website in which it will warn which cities will be at risk 72 hours prior to heat waves occurring. It will also provide daily updates on dangerously high temperatures around Italy.

For more information see www.protezionecivile.it.