The emergency medical service is taking more than 200 calls every day. Interventions caused by high temperatures are rising - collapses, heat strokes, deteriorating conditions among the chronically ill. That is not a forecast. That is what is already happening.

Yesterday the hottest place was Gevgelija, where the hydrometeorological service measured a maximum of 38.1 degrees. Demir Kapija followed with 37.9 and Veles with 37.8. In Skopje, at the Zajčev Rid station, the maximum reached 37.7 degrees, and in Petrovec 36.7. Kavadarci had 37.5, Strumica 36.3, Vinica 36.2, Štip 36.0. The coolest spots were Popova Šapka with 21.3 degrees and Kruševo with 27.3.

A new wave is forecast for today - between 35 and 40 degrees, with an orange warning level across most of the country. The Vardar valley and the south-east will be hottest, while Skopje is expected to hit around 37.

Institute of Public Health: the risk stays high until 7 August

Those most at risk are the elderly, children, pregnant women, the chronically ill and workers who stay outdoors. The recommendations are familiar - avoid direct sun between 11am and 5pm, drink enough fluids, wear light and pale clothing.

Doctors warn that in cases of severe headache, dizziness, nausea or a racing heartbeat, the person should be moved to a cool place immediately, given fluids and, if needed, taken for medical help.

One group on that list has no choice

„Workers who stay outdoors” is the phrase that appears in every announcement and gets skimmed past the fastest. A builder, a utility worker, a delivery rider, a farmer - they cannot choose to skip the hours between 11 and 5. They are out there because the work is out there.

For them, „avoid the sun in the hottest part of the day” means nothing without something else: a reorganised shift schedule, mandatory breaks, water and shade provided on site. That is not an appeal to citizens - it is an employer's obligation and an inspectorate's job.

When the ambulance service reports over 200 calls a day and the weather service forecasts temperatures above 40 degrees, an appeal to the public is necessary but not enough. The question is how many workplaces will change their schedule today, and who is going to check whether they did.