Public Urged to Take Precautions Against Heat-Related Illnesses Amid Rising Temperatures

DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 30) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.

In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:

• Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;

• Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;

• Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;

• Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;

• Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and

• Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.

In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:

• Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;

• The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.

• Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.

The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.

Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:

• Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;

• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;

• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;

• Seek shade;

• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;

• Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.

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.

For more health information, the public may visit the CHP's heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast,UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

Hot weather in Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

Remarks by S for Health at media session on tobacco control measures

Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (May 30):

Reporter: What is the next step in the Government's anti-smoking policies, and how would that further contribute to making Hong Kong a smoke-free city? And in terms of your mentions on alternative smoking products, how does that pose impact towards the number of smokers, and when will the next measures towards these products take place?

Secretary for Health: We have already systematically implemented the anti-tobacco measures, including increasing the penalty for illegal import of tobacco products, as well as the implementation of prohibition or the ban on possession of alternative smoking products since the end of last month. So far, the measures are very smoothly implemented. And the next measure is the duty stamp as well as the uniform packaging for tobacco products, which will be fully implemented by the end of next year. These are very important countermeasures against illicit smoking products. The next step will be, after all these measures including the duty stamp, starting implementing the possible measure against additives into tobacco products. These additives are in fact attracting the younger generation as well as a lot of women into nicotine addiction. So, this is a very important measure.

So, after all these short-term measures, we'll be considering other middle or long-term measures, including the prohibition or the ban of smoking while walking. But we will look into the short-term measures before we implement these long-term measures. We have reached a smoking rate of 8.5 per cent in the year 2025, and this is a historic low in the history of Hong Kong. We will continue to move towards a smoke-free Hong Kong, a Healthy Hong Kong and in accordance with our national policy of Healthy China. So, after considering and monitoring the effect of all these measures, we will consider the next stage.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: AI-found images