17% of traffic accidents can be due to excessive temperatures

moods, it modulates sleep and gives us the ability to react to certain unexpected circumstances.

Excess heat affects the functions of said gland and is capable of causing failures in driving, which manifest as fatigue, drowsiness, aggression and even diminishes the ability to concentrate and attention, reducing the reaction times before a certain circumstance.

Dr. Alfredo Pérez Cortada, Traffic Unit specialist at Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja warns that, "We should avoid travel during the hottest hours, it’s better to do so early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon, but always with daylight."

In addition, an interior car temperature of between 35C and 40C is just as dangerous as having drunk five beers. With this heat, the driver stops perceiving between 15 and 20% of traffic signals and their mistakes increase up to 35%. varied, mainly low and medium intensity. According to Dr. Juan Costell, Head of Emergency at Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja, "50% of these injuries occur in the spine by the mechanism of so-called whiplash, followed by dorsal and lumbar injuries that represent 34% of contusions produced at vertebral level ". In addition, "the musculoskeletal and spinal injuries require the involvement and coordination of different specialties that may be needed throughout the recovery process, either to heal or stabilize the injury". For this reason, the Traffic Unit houses includes a group of medical experts in this area that deal with pain and allows the patient to start recovery and regain mobility sooner.

Traffic accidents, due to the forces of acceleration and deceleration, can produce acute injuries or complicate pre-existing injuries. The assessment and implementation of an early treatment is essential to minimize the physical consequences that occur in traffic accidents. Dr. Costell states, "From a medical point of view, it is important that each patient involved in a traffic accident receives an urgent medical assessment, whatever the seriousness of their injuries is." It is advisable to go to a specialized Traffic Unit that includes the first emergency visit, hospitalization, diagnostic tests (CT, magnetic resonance, ultrasound or laboratory), consultations with specialists, rehabilitation treatment, intensive care and, if necessary, urgent surgery. In addition, the traffic units of the hospitals Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Valencia advise patients about their right to personalised attention for a complete rehabilitation, perform the relevant procedures with the insurance company and manage all medical reports for an adequate treatment.

Sufficient rest: do not start the trip if you have not rested properly. It is also recommended to take a break every hour and a half to stretch. Stop as soon as you feel tired.

Eat light meals and do not drink any type of alcoholic beverage, including those that are low alcohol.

Correct driving position: the legs should be slightly flexed and the backrest adjusted for the wrists to reach the top of the steering wheel.

Use comfortable and loose clothing as well as adequate footwear.