A word of caution from the Department of Health as temperature rises in many parts of the country

Issued by Department of Health

03 October 2005

As temperature rose to over 30 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country on Monday, the Department of Health warns that such heat could prove to be very dangerous and may result in heat-related illness.

According to the weather forecast the conditions in many parts of the country are expected to get worse on Tuesday (04 October 2005) and could be conducive to the spread of runaway fires.

Extreme heat may result in dehydration and other heat-related illness such as heat stroke. Heat stroke can be life threatening, causing death in as little as 30 minutes.

The risk of heat-related illness is significantly increased among children, the elderly and people who are exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged period.

Symptoms of heat-related conditions include fatigue, impaired judgment, headache, nausea, hallucination, fits and fainting.

The Department of Health encourages people to consume lots of healthy fluids throughout the day but they should avoid drinks containing caffeine or alcohol.

To prevent heat-related illness:

• Wear a hat, cap and light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton clothes.
• Wear sunscreen (SPF 15) to protect against sunburn.
• Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day.
• Physical activity should be limited to early mornings and late afternoons.

Contact: Charity Bhengu, Media Liaison Officer 083 679 7424 or (012) 312 0420