KUALA LUMPUR: As the mercury continues to soar, the public is urged to stay alert for signs of heatstroke and to take precautions to safeguard themselves and their families.
Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, a public health medical expert from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, highlighted that one of the key indicators of heatstroke is a consistently high body temperature reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius.
"Other indicators of heatstroke include initial sweating before it is reduced to none, feeling restless, spasms, loss of consciousness, drowsiness and no urine output.
"So if a child wears a diaper, the diaper remains dry.
"The victims become dehydrated, skin and lips become dry and the victim may have a fit," she warned.
Dr Sharifa said children under five years old, pregnant women, and the elderly are at a higher risk of heatstroke due to challenges in regulating their body temperature.
"Those with preexisting health conditions are more susceptible to complications," she said, highlighting the importance of clinics being vigilant and including heatstroke in their surveillance efforts.
Dr Sharifa stressed the importance of limiting outdoor activities to prevent heatstroke.
"Different people have different thresholds. So drink a lot of plain water, take baths to cool down, and wear sunscreen, and shades in the car.
"If possible use air conditioning to cool down and install shades at house windows."
She also recommended installing ventilation fans at home to expel hot air and help cool indoor spaces.
"In some places abroad, they use sprinklers to spray water on the roofs of houses to help cool them down.
"One should also monitor children for signs of infective fever, which can be caused by either an infection or excessive heat exposure.
"Schools and workplaces must also ensure that students and workers don't stay out for too long.
"Wear light colours, loose cotton attire to stay cool," she added.
Health Director-General, Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan today called on the public to avoid exposure to hot weather and refrain from outdoor activities.
Checks on Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) show that a number of areas in the north have been experiencing high temperatures over the last three days.
Temperatures in Pokok Sena soared between 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in Perlis, Langkawi and Kubang Pasu hovered between 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.
