Madrid steps up its heatwave campaign to protect vulnerable people

In response to the intense heatwave hitting the capital, Madrid City Council has strengthened its action plan since 14 July to protect the groups most exposed, such as homeless people, older people and children. The strategy, led by the Department of Social Policies, Family and Equality, focuses on preventive measures, direct care and a support network coordinated with social organisations.

One of the pillars of the campaign is the new air-conditioned space set up at the Samur Social headquarters (Carrera de San Francisco, 10), which opens from 12:00 to 20:00, the most critical part of the day in terms of temperature. There, homeless people can hydrate, shower, eat and rest, accompanied by staff specialised in social care. In addition, the routes of street teams, independent of Samur Social, have been reinforced to locate homeless people and inform them about the resources available. In Cañada Real, Madrid Salud has circulated a series of recommendations through local associations, focused on self-care and prevention in the face of heat.

Other priority fronts include special protocols in nursery schools and municipal camps, as well as strengthened monitoring of older people who receive telecare or home help. These groups are considered especially vulnerable to extreme phenomena such as heatwaves. The City Council acknowledges that, although the operation is under way, it still needs time to become established: some people living on the streets do not go to the spaces provided, preferring other alternatives during the middle hours of the day. With these measures, Madrid seeks not only to offer immediate protection, but also to move towards a more structural and supportive response to the growing impact of climate change on its most vulnerable population.