By The SUN
 |
| People are advised to remain indoors as much as possible to avoid the heat |
Hong Kong raised the Very Hot Weather Warning today,
May 19, and advised people to remain indoors as much as possible.
Nineteen heat shelters were also opened across the city to
give relief to those who are forced to stay outdoors. They will remain open
until 10pm if the warning is cancelled before 4:30pm. Otherwise, the shelters
will remain open until 8am tomorrow.
As temperatures are expected to remain at 33 degrees Celsius
until early next week, health authorities are reminding the public to take
necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.
The Centre for Health Protection issued the reminder as many
Hongkongers are expected to spend Buddha’s Birthday holiday, on outdoor
activities.
Summer appears to have arrived a month early in Hong Kong
this year with hot spells already recorded in April and this month.
The Hong Kong Observatory forecasts mainly fine weather for
Hong Kong today, May 19, with some showers in the morning and a low of 28ºC. It
will be very hot during the day with a high of 33ºC in urban areas and 35ºC in
the New Territories.
The next few days will be very hot with sunny periods with a
few showers on Thursday and Friday, the Observatory said.
The CHP advised the public to carry and drink plenty of
water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities.
“Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid
beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they
speed up water loss through the urinary system,” a CHP spokesman explained.
“The obese, the sick, those with heart disease or high blood
pressure, the old and the young are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They
should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.
The stroke warning is also raised as cases are seen to spike
during the hot season, with the Filipino community having its share of the
toll.
Figures from the Hong Kong Health Department show that about
3,500 people die in the city each year due to stroke, and about 16,000 suffer a
new or recurrent stroke within the same year.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the city,
after heart disease and cancer.
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| Vigorous activities like hiking are discouraged amid the hot weather |
To prevent heat stroke, the CHP recommended the following
precautions:
·
Wear loose and light-colored clothing to reduce
heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
·
Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities
such as hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place
additional demands on the physique;
·
Perform outdoor activities in the morning or
late afternoon;
·
For indoor activities, open all windows, use a
fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
·
Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.
If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace
where practicable. Start
work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a
cool area for rest at regular intervals toallow the body to recuperate.
The public should also note the latest and the forecast ultraviolet index
released by the Hong Kong Observatory. When the UV Index is high at 6 or above:
·
Minimize direct exposure of the skin and the
eyes to sunlight;
·
Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
·
Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
·
Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking
sunglasses;
·
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun
protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after
swimming, sweating or toweling off; and
·
While using DEET-containing insect repellents
for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first
before insect repellent.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath
or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon
as possible.
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| The elderly are particularly vulnerable to hypertension |
Meanwhile, the DH has called on the public to be aware of
and regularly monitor their blood pressure level and lead a healthy lifestyle
to guard against hypertension.
In an advisory issued to mark World Hypertension Awareness
Day on Monday, the DH said that according to the World Health Organization, one in four
men and one in five women worldwide have hypertension.
In Hong Kong, about 27.7 percent of people aged between 15
and 84 have high blood pressure, and about half of them are unaware of their
condition, said the DH.
It said people with such condition should take care more
during these times as hypertension is “a prominent risk factor for severe
Covid-19 and death.
This means that those with hypertension are more likely to
become seriously ill or died from Covid-19 compared to those who don’t have the
condition.
“Unless with contraindications, individuals with hypertension under
stable control are encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccination for protection
against the disease,” said the statement.
But it advised concerned individuals to first consult their family
doctors about having Covid-19 vaccination.
Hypertension is said to occur when the pressure exerted on the walls of
arteries is persistently high. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to
severe complications such as coronary heart disease, stroke, aneurysm, retinal
disease and kidney failure.
While some patients may suffer from headaches, dizziness and shortness
of breath, hypertension does not usually come with obvious symptoms, said the
DH advisory. This is why it is often called the “silent killer.”
Thus, it is important to check blood pressure regularly for early
detection.
The 19 heat shelters are located in the following places:
Hong Kong Districts:
---------------------
Central and Western -
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern -
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern -
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
Wan Chai -
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
------------------
Kowloon City -
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong -
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po -
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin -
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong -
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
--------------------------
Islands -
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing -
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North -
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung -
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin -
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po -
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan -
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun -
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long -
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long -
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
