Heatstroke in Over 75s: 2026 Summer Protocol in Costa del Sol and Benidorm
This summer’s data leaves no room for doubt. In June 2026, the MoMo system of the Carlos III Health Institute attributed 1,029 deaths to excessive heat in Spain, more than double that of June 2025, and the highest-risk group was people over 75 (Euro Weekly News, July 2026). If you are over 75 and live in Costa del Sol or Benidorm —or care for someone who is—, this guide is for you.
This is not a generic list of tips. It is the protocol that our healthcare teams recommend every summer to older residents of Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Benidorm, Torrox, and Almuñécar, organized so you can apply it today.
In 30 seconds: In June 2026, 1,029 people died from heat in Spain (MoMo), more than double the previous year; it was the second hottest June since 1961, with +3.2 °C above normal (AEMET). The highest-risk profile: over 75, living alone, with chronic illness and daily medication. Prevention is decided before the heatwave, not during.
Why are over 75s the highest-risk group?
According to the risk profile released with MoMo data from June 2026, the typical victim of extreme heat is a person over 75, living alone, with chronic illnesses, and taking daily medication (Euro Weekly News, 2026). This is no coincidence: with age, the body loses its ability to sweat, the sensation of thirst diminishes, and the heart tolerates the effort of thermoregulation less well.
Added to this is a very local factor: a good part of the foreign residents on the coast live far from their families. Who notices in time if a 78-year-old neighbor hasn’t left an apartment at 34 degrees for two days? This logistical solitude, not the temperature itself, is what turns a heatwave into an emergency.
Certain common medications for those over 70 —diuretics, antihypertensives, some antidepressants and sedatives— also alter hydration or the body’s response to heat. Do not stop them on your own: they must be reviewed with a doctor before the peak of summer.
Summer 2026 Data: What We Already Know
June 2026 was the second hottest June in Spain since 1961, with an anomaly of +3.2 °C above average and peaks above 40 °C during the episode from June 21 to 25 (AEMET, June 2026 climate summary). And July and August are, historically, the toughest months.
| Summer 2026 Data Point | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Heat-attributable deaths in June | 1,029 (more than double June 2025) | MoMo / ISCIII, via Euro Weekly News |
| Historical ranking of the month | 2nd hottest June since 1961 | AEMET |
| Monthly thermal anomaly | +3.2 °C above average | AEMET |
| Most severe episode | June 21-25, peaks > 40 °C | AEMET |
| Highest risk group | Over 75s living alone | MoMo / ISCIII |
The practical takeaway is uncomfortable but useful: the worst of summer has probably not passed. If June already broke records, the protocol for July and August cannot be “drink a little more water.” It needs to be a plan.
Heat Exhaustion or Heatstroke: How to Distinguish Them?
The difference matters because one is treated at home and the other is a life-threatening emergency. In our 24-hour emergency services on the coast, we see it every summer: most scares start as heat exhaustion that no one stopped in time.
| Heat exhaustion | Heatstroke (EMERGENCY) | |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Pale, cold, and sweaty | Hot, red, and often dry |
| Body temperature | Normal or slightly elevated | Very high (can exceed 40 °C) |
| Mental state | Dizziness, weakness, nausea | Confusion, incoherent speech, fainting |
| What to do | Shade, sips of water, rest, and monitoring | Call 112 immediately and cool the person down |
The sign that should never be ignored is a change in behavior: confusion, strange responses, extreme drowsiness, or loss of consciousness. For any of these, call emergencies. Do not wait “to see if it gets better.”
The 7-Step Summer Protocol
This is what we recommend organizing before the next heatwave, not when the thermometer already reads 40:
- 1. Summer medical check-up. A consultation to adjust medication (diuretics, blood pressure, sedatives) and detect risks. This can be done with a doctor at home without traveling.
- 2. Midday hours rule. Between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM, no street, beach, or garden. Shopping and walks, before 11:00 AM or after 7:00 PM.
- 3. Scheduled hydration. A glass of water every hour, whether thirsty or not. Thirst in older people arrives late; the clock doesn’t fail.
- 4. A cool room at home. A single room with air conditioning or a fan and closed blinds is enough. Check that the appliance works in June, not on the first night at 30 °C.
- 5. Daily contact system. If you live alone, arrange a daily call or message with a neighbor, family member, or caregiver. One day without a response = someone will check.
- 6. Emergency numbers visible. 112 and a 24-hour emergency line written large next to the phone, not saved on a mobile that might be difficult to unlock when dizzy.
- 7. Plan for red alert days. On days with an AEMET extreme heat warning, zero activity and double vigilance. These can be checked on the AEMET website or in any news report.
Pool and Beach: The Silent Risk After the Sun
There is a pattern of summer accidents that coastal emergency services know well: hours of sun exposure, followed by a sudden entry into cold water. The thermal contrast can cause syncope in the water — popularly known as ‘corte de digestión’ (indigestion) but actually a thermal shock — and in an older person, the consequences can be serious.
The safe guideline is simple: after a long time in the sun, enter the water gradually (wet your neck, wrists, and face first), avoid swimming alone, and choose times and areas with a lifeguard. In August, with the sea like a bathtub and pools full, this rule prevents more trouble than any other.
When should you call an ambulance?
With symptoms of heatstroke —very hot skin, confusion, fainting, very high temperature— call 112 immediately, the single emergency number in Spain, available in several languages. While waiting for help: move the person to the shade, remove excess clothing, cool them with water or damp cloths on the neck, armpits, and groin, and do not give them anything to drink if they are unconscious.
For everything that is not a life-threatening emergency but cannot wait —persistent dizziness, dehydration, fever that won’t go down, an elderly relative “who is not well”— residents of Costa del Sol and Benidorm also have our 24-hour emergency line at +34 624 62 86 00, with service in Spanish, English, German, French, and Finnish. Providing care in the patient’s language is not a luxury: in an emergency, language is another vital sign.
Get Ahead: The At-Home Summer Check-up
Almost everything in this guide boils down to one idea: heatstroke is prevented in May and June, and suffered in July and August. If you are over 75, or care for someone who is, the most convenient way to start is with an at-home check-up: medication review, blood pressure, hydration, and a personalized heat plan, without leaving home or queuing in the sun.
👉 Schedule a home medical visit before the next heatwave, or call us at +34 624 62 86 00. And if you want to keep reading, here we explain how extreme heat affects health in Spain and which emergency symptoms you should never ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heatstroke in Older Adults
Who is most at risk of heatstroke?
According to MoMo data from June 2026, the highest-risk group is people over 75, especially if they live alone, suffer from chronic diseases, and take daily medication. In June 2026, heat caused 1,029 deaths in Spain, more than double the previous year.
What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
In heat exhaustion, the skin is pale and sweaty, and there is dizziness or weakness: it is treated with shade, water, and rest. In heatstroke, the skin is very hot and dry, body temperature soars, and confusion or fainting occurs: it is an emergency and you must call 112.
What do I do while the ambulance arrives?
Move the person to the shade or a cool place, remove excess clothing, and cool them with water or damp cloths on the neck, armpits, and groin. If conscious, offer small sips of water; if unconscious, do not give them anything to drink and place them on their side.
Which medications increase risk with heat?
Diuretics, some antihypertensives, certain antidepressants, and sedatives can promote dehydration or hinder the body’s response to heat. You should never stop them on your own: the correct approach is to review them with a doctor before the peak of summer.
I live far from my elderly relative in Spain. How can I protect them remotely?
Organize a daily call at a fixed time, arrange with a neighbor or caregiver to visit them on heat warning days, and keep emergency numbers (112 and a 24-hour emergency line) visible. A home medical check-up before summer completes the plan.
When is it better to call 112 and when a private emergency service?
In case of life-threatening signs —confusion, loss of consciousness, very hot and dry skin— always call 112. For non-life-threatening emergencies (dehydration, persistent dizziness, fever), a 24-hour emergency service with care in your language can assess, treat at home, or transfer if necessary.
