No heat wave but…

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Although the country’s weather bureau has assured that there is no heat wave in the country now, there is no denying that we have been experiencing very warm days recently, the likes of which we do not seem to have gone through before.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, better known as PAGASA, through its weather forecasters, claims that this kind of weather is just normal for this time, which is really summer in the Philippines.

PAGASA further claims that, so far, their records of temperatures prevailing in the country do not yet reach the level of what may be classified as a “heat wave”.

Most of us find that hard to believe especially when we find ourselves sweating profusely even after just a few seconds of being exposed to the sun, or even just outside in the open, in shaded areas. Recollections of news reports from other countries, even in Europe and the United States, about people collapsing in the streets due to the alleged heat waves have, naturally, made us wary that the same things could happen in our country.

But even if there is no such thing as a heat wave hitting us, it will still be of benefit for us to heed the advices and precautions suggested by those in the know about what we could do to prevent the discomforts of extremely warm temperatures, and avoid illnesses associated with exposure to too much heat.

There is a lot of good sense in the reminders to drink lots of fluid, avoid strenuous activities, wearing loose and light-colored clothes, and protecting our eyes from the sun’s glare by wearing sunglasses. These are simple, homespun suggestions that could ease our discomfort, at least, if not save us from more serious heat-related afflictions.*