FIVE children needed medical attention at schools in Madrid today (Thursday) and civil servants walked out of the courts in the region because of the heatwave currently gripping the whole of Spain.
Judges and admin staff in Majadahonda were sweltering in 35ºC inside the building when they decided they could not take any more and went home.
Meanwhile, five pupils were taken to the Infanta Elena hospital after they became dizzy and some fainted at the Neil Armstrong high school (pictured) in Valdemoro.
They have all since been discharged, having been admitted with symptoms of dehydration, headaches, feeling sick, and severe light-headedness.
Medics said none of them had suffered actual heatstroke, which is defined as the body temperature rising to 40ºC or more – 42ºC usually being fatal – which would require the patient to be placed in an urgent refrigeration system.
But they were still feverish, and although only five went to hospital, ambulance staff attended to 47 pupils at the centre in one afternoon.
The worst-affected students were taken to the crematorium, since this is on the same street as the school and has air-conditioning, to be able to assist them urgently.
Valdemoro town council sent a consignment of bottles of water to the school, as well as arranging for ambulances to be on duty until home time.
Regional education authorities have given teachers permission to send pupils home and shut schools if the heat becomes too intense.
Temperatures of well over 40ºC in the shade are expected until at least Monday, exceptional for the time of year.
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