Summer, sun, and above all – heat. In the past few days, a heatwave, unbearable for many, has occurred throughout Germany. With temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius in some cities across the country, it was difficult to breathe. According to weather experts, the next heatwave is already expected in mid-July. Carola Puzio gave me the best answers to the most common questions on this topic. She is a lecturer for nursing training at PlanB and shared the following with me in an interview:
Nejla: Carola, what does such extreme heat actually do to our body?
Carola: Well, people know that we sweat a lot more first. We lose water and salts. This makes our circulation work much harder, and the heart beats faster. All of this leads to me becoming incredibly tired, getting headaches, and feeling dizzy. So, if we are exposed to the heat for too long, the body simply cannot regulate itself as well, and that is then „heat stress.“.
Nejla: How does this „heat stress“ affect our work and study?
Carola: Heat makes the whole body sluggish. We fall into micro-sleeps, are more irritable, and as a result, we make mistakes. The participants are human just like me and get tired. Concentration wanes. Sometimes they also react more slowly. It's a significant drop in performance. The heat is already noticeable. That's when I like to manage the fluid balance and have everyone calculate how much water they need for the day.
Nejla: What could be some tips and life hacks to make the situation more pleasant for both instructors and participants?
Carola: We really do shorter units with regular breaks. That helps to ease the mind. I always have a glass of water on my desk and then I say, „Everyone please have a drink now!“ This actually helps to reduce headaches and fatigue. I also insist that everyone stands up and gets some movement through physical exercises. This way, the brain gets more oxygen. First thing in the morning, we open the windows while there's still fresh, cool air. When there are breaks, I naturally turn on the air conditioning too. But I also have to say that in such heat, I assign lighter tasks to boost the motivation and thus the performance of the participants.
Nejla: Have you also considered the possibility of hybrid teaching at these temperatures?
Carola: We offer it [hybrid teaching] anyway. In fact, last week we shortened the class and switched to online mode for the rest of the week. I personally find online teaching brilliant, especially with everyday obstacles such as a public transport strike or for participants with children who need supervision. This way, everyone can still participate. That's great. Especially with this weather, this option offers a good alternative.
The weather is not a problem for Carola. She always pursues her goal of preparing all participants as best as possible for their exams and being a motivating lecturer. Her tips and tricks show us how to achieve our plans despite strong environmental influences, while also looking after our own bodies. Hats off, Carola!
