The entire territory of Macedonia is on orange warning alert today. Daytime temperatures range from 31 to 38 degrees, and in the Vardar valley and the southeast it is not out of the question they reach around 40. A further rise is expected from Wednesday, exceeding 40 degrees in places, with the forecast running to the end of next week.

The Institute of Public Health has published recommendations. Those recommendations are long, detailed and obvious - which is exactly why most people won't read them to the end. So here is what actually decides whether you end up ill or not.

The rules that are not up for negotiation

No direct sun exposure and no outdoor activity between 11am and 5pm. Light, loose clothing, protective sunglasses, a light-coloured hat. Drink water without waiting until you feel thirsty - thirst arrives after the body is already in deficit. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and very cold drinks. Keep windows and blinds closed during the day, and open them in the evening when the temperature drops.

For vulnerable groups - people over 60, pregnant women, children, the socially vulnerable, outdoor workers and people with chronic conditions - these are not advice but a condition. They should also keep taking their regular therapy and consult their GP about any change in their state.

Farm work is where this story turns lethal

GP Lilija Cholakova Dervishova says it without wrapping it up: „At temperatures this high, movement and physical activity only in the morning hours, do not expose yourselves during the strongest sun, absolutely no physical and agricultural work because at the highest temperatures a blood vessel can burst, that is the bad experience we had in the previous heatwave where every day we had people who work in agriculture with strokes“.

Every day. Strokes. Among people working in agriculture. That is not a forecast, it is what already happened during the last heatwave - and it is the point where the recommendation „avoid physical activity“ stops being a platitude and becomes the most concrete piece of advice in the entire text.

When to call 194 or 112

If dizziness, weakness, agitation, intense thirst or headache set in - get to a cooler place immediately, measure body temperature, drink water or a still mineral drink. For painful cramps in the legs, arms or stomach - rest somewhere cool and fluids with electrolytes. If the cramps last longer than an hour, medical help is needed.

If someone has hot dry skin, convulsions or is unconscious - call 194 or 112 immediately. While waiting: move them somewhere cool, lay them flat with legs raised over 20 centimetres, remove clothing, apply cold compresses to the neck, armpits and groin, spray the skin with water. Do not administer any medication. If the person is unconscious, put them in the recovery position.

Food is part of the same story

The Food Agency recommends buying food from trusted places and picking up chilled and frozen products at the end of the shop. Perishable food - meat, milk, eggs - should not be left long in a car. Chilled food is kept below 5 degrees, cooked food above 60. In fast food outlets the advice is to avoid ketchup, mayonnaise, sauces and creamy salads.

The heatwave is not a local story. This summer France recorded over 2,000 heat-related deaths, and Belgium 1,200 - 39 percent above the usual. Those are countries with better systems, a cooler climate and more air conditioning than we have.

If the numbers look like that there, it is worth reading the sentence about 11am to 5pm once more - and treating it as a deadline rather than a recommendation.