Posted by Malaysia’s weather is usually hot, but sometimes there is a heat wave. Heat wave can be very dangerous, just like other natural disasters. Here are some ways to deal with heat wave and keep your cool when it’s hot outside.
What is Heat Wave?
A heat wave is a long stretch of extremely hot weather in one place. It’s interesting that there isn’t a single meaning for how high the heat wave is. For there to be a heat wave, the temperatures have to be higher than what they have been in the past for that place.
Still, when we think of a heat wave, we often think of it as lasting two or three days or more and being 10 degrees or more above normal.
Heat waves happen when air gets stuck and makes a place feel like an oven. Most of the time, a high-pressure system that pushes air down is to blame.
This force keeps air from rising near the ground. The air that is sinking acts like a cap. It keeps warm air from the ground in place. Without rising air, it would not have rained, and there would have been nothing to stop the hot air from getting even hotter.
Here are 10 tips to survive Malaysian heat wave:
1. Stay hydrated
Even if you’re not thirsty, drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. When it’s hot, you sweat, and you need to replace the fluids you lose or you’ll get too hot. Keep a bottle of water close by as you go about your day to avoid getting dehydrated.
2. Keep eye on your children and pets
Don’t leave kids or pets in hot cars alone for even a second. Keep your pets inside and give them plenty of water and a cool place to hang out.
3. Minimize outdoor activity
Stay inside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when it’s the hottest, and don’t spend too much time in the sun. Don’t do anything too hard, and put off outdoor games and events.
4. Protect yourself from the sun
When you’re outside, try to stay out of the strong sun as much as you can. Put on a hat or bring an umbrella. Wear sunscreen!
5. Keep the temperature low
Set the temperature on your air units lower and use curtains or blinds to block direct sunlight. If there is no air conditioning, stay inside on the lowest floor in an area with good air flow and fans. Close the blinds and shades. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can quickly cool a room by putting a tray or dish of ice in front of a fan.
6. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks
Don’t drink booze, sodas with a lot of sugar, coffee, energy drinks, or other drinks with caffeine because they make you lose water. During a heat wave, that’s the last thing you need.
7. Eat healthy meals
Have meals often but keep the portion small each time. Consume food that has nutrients (not just empty carbs) and food that has a lot of water in it, like fruits and veggies.
8. Wear light clothes
Wear light, open, light-colored clothes and a hat made of a material that lets air through. Tight clothes keep heat inside.
9. Check on the elderlies
Check on older or more fragile family and friends, especially if they may have lost air conditioning. Call your doctor if you or someone you know is having problems because of the heat, like a fast heartbeat, feeling dizzy, falling, headaches, muscle cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea.
10. Use cooling tools on your body
If you feel too hot, put wet washcloths on your arms and neck or take a cool shower or sponge bath. Bring a cold water bottle spray or a cooling face mist with you and spray cold water on your pressure points to lower your body temperature. A small portable fan would help a lot too!
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Anisa is a writer who focuses on career and lifestyle topics in an effort to motivate both job searchers and employers towards greater fulfillment in their professional lives.
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