It’s been panas gila these last couple of weeks, with high temperatures recorded (and felt!) throughout the country. Dah lah awal bulan haritu the meteorological department stated that our current heatwave is expected to last until June.
Betul, kita ni dah biasa Malaysia panas kan. Tapi sebenarnya, this panas lit lit weather can be life-threatening. In fact, as of 1 May 2023, there have been three heatstroke-related deaths in Malaysia… and tiga tiga were children.
And even though the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi has assured that there is no need to declare emergency, and assured that the government is prepared should the need arise, kita masih kena be vigilant, and do our best to beat the heat.
So, Macam Mana Kita Nak Keep Cool?
Well, obviously, pertama sekali stay out of the heat as much as you can, lagi lagi between 11am and 3pm. But if you absolutely must go out, jangan lupa untuk:
- Stay in the shade
- Wear a hat or use an umbrella
- Wear light and loose clothes
- Wear sunscreen
- Carry a water bottle with you
Selain tu, you’re also encouraged to cool yourself down by having cold drinks (and food). But that doesn’t mean you can suka hati minum whatever you want. Try your best to avoid (or maybe, keep to a minimum lah) alcohol, caffeine, and hot drinks. Aside from dehydration, it could also increase your core body temperate, and make you sweat even more.
Haa dah berpeluh tu, mesti lah rasa nak mandi kan? Now, we know that it sounds syok to take a cold shower, but JANGAN! Cold showers actually conserve body heat, and undermines the key strategies for heat loss. Kalau you pergi swimming ke, berendam ke in cold water, then yes, it’ll gradually cool the body. Tapi sebab cold showers are usually quick affairs, then it’s ineffective at cooling the body. So, instead, try showering in tepid water cause it’ll help with blood flow to the skin, and increase heat loss.
The next thing you can do is to keep your living space cool. So tutup lah tingkap during the day. If you have a habit of opening windows for ventilation purposes, then do so during the early mornings or at night. Selain tu boleh juga guna electric fans to circulate cool air into the room. In fact, you can even create cross breeze winds with either one or two fans by following these tips. Last but not least, always monitor the temperature of the room, and adjust accordingly.
And if your home isn’t furnished with air conditioning, jangan risau sebab kita boleh je survive without it by:
- Using box fans or ceiling fans to circulate the air in the room
- Using cold towels or bandanas on your head and shoulders
- Eliminate extra source of heats
Fuhh, we understand that this heat can be unbearable. So remember to practice these tips to keep your cool. Literally. While you’re at it, be sure to monitor your kids (dan juga pets) activities (especially when they’re outside), behaviour, and symptoms to ensure that they are well, and safe.
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
