Several cities are seeing hotter days, with the Meteorological Department issuing a yellow-level heatwave alert for seven areas in the peninsula on Friday.
Health experts have advised people, schoolgoing students and examination candidates to exercise caution, especially when outdoors, as extreme heat events could trigger heat stress conditions, such as heatstroke.
According to the Meteorological Department’s portal, up to 4.30pm on Friday, the yellow areas experiencing scorching heat were Chuping in Perlis, Kota Setar in Kedah, Kuala Kangsar in Perak, Sepang in Selangor, Alor Gajah in Melaka, and Tangkak and Batu Pahat in Johor.
Sabah and Sarawak recorded no heatwave, and the maximum daily temperatures in the two states and other states in the peninsula were less than 35°C.
A Level 1 or yellow-level alert denotes a daily maximum temperature of 35°C to 37°C for at least three consecutive days.
A Level 2 or orange-level alert indicates a heatwave, where a daily maximum temperature of between 38°C and 40°C is recorded, and a Level 3 or red-level alert refers to a hazardous situation where the maximum temperature is more than 40°C for at least three consecutive days.
Universiti Selangor visiting professor of Environmental Health Dr Jamal Hisham Hashim said that in a hot environment, people might experience heat stress and heat-related illness, which can be in the form of heat rash, heat cramp, heat syncope, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
“Heatstroke can be life-threatening,” he told theNew Sunday Times.
He said the ones most at risk were those who stayed for too long under the hot sun, such as landscape and construction workers, and those who commuted in non-air-conditioned transportation to work or schools, as well as those who did not hydrate themselves well by drinking water.
“Our study in 2016 showed that hydration is the best way to avoid heat-related illnesses, and drinking plain water is better than sweetened drinks.
“Hydrate yourself with plain water, eight to 10 glasses per day. Stay out of the hot sun and stay in the shade if you have to be outside for a long time.
“Wear light breathable clothing made of light cotton.
“If you have to exercise outside, do it early in the morning or late afternoon. Do not overwork yourself and always take drinking water with you.
SOURCE: NST
